Charlton Artist’s Dream Comes to Life

Charlton artist Brian Townsend has generously shared his creative talents with “Buloke Times” readers and North Central sports fans since 2009.

Drawing from influences such as Jeff Hook and WEG, Brian has illustrated premiership posters for the senior grand final contenders every year. The “Buloke Times” then supplies the winning club with copies of the poster to sell, raising funds for junior teams.

Talking to Brian, it soon becomes clear that premiership posters only scratch the surface of his artistic skills. He has been avidly drawing cartoons, comic strips and caricatures since his primary school days. Encouraged by his parents to sign, date and keep everything, Brian now has a substantial portfolio of artwork, including his entertaining comic series “Deadbranch”, which will soon feature in print for the first time, right here in the pages of the “Buloke Times”.

Brian began his working life as a screen printer in 1985, a role he held until 1988 while also completing a course in 2D design. From 1989 to 2003, he ran his own commercial art business, working mainly for real estate agents and developers, drawing houses and artists’ impressions.

Brian and his family moved to Charlton in 2004, where he began working at the chicken farm just up the road from his home. In 2011, he started working for the shire, explaining that at some point he had to settle into one of those “real” jobs everyone was talking about. However, he never quite gave up on his dream of becoming a published cartoonist.

In 1985, Brian had the chance to meet one of his idols, Jeff Hook. He was interviewed, shared examples of his artwork and benefited from some experienced advice: “Many are called, but few are chosen.”

Nearly 40 years later, Brian’s work has finally been chosen, quite enthusiastically, by the team at the “Buloke Times”, and his dream of becoming a published cartoonist is nearing reality, thanks to this exciting new collaboration.

This is the beginning of a new creative partnership, and the team at the “Times” is thrilled to be working with Brian and cannot wait to introduce readers to “Deadbranch”, a locally drawn cartoon strip that has never before appeared in print. With its humour and satire, “Deadbranch” promises to bring something fresh and entertaining to the pages of our paper.