Mitch “Revs” Resevsky has his feet firmly planted on the ground.
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But you can’t blame him if his head is in the clouds.
The Merewether-based Revs has enjoyed spectacular commercial success with his artwork in 2018, and there is more to come.
The latest Revs art to create a splash has been three original images featured on new membership cards for the Wests group of Newcastle clubs. Made in his colourful retro-beach style, featuring iconic Newcastle locations, they will be in the hands of 150,000 members.
In September, Revs went national when his artwork was one of three chosen to feature on commemorative jars of Vegemite, which celebrated 95 years as a leading Australian food brand.
Those two projects alone have sent his online store into overdrive and his phone ringing hot.
“Between Vegemite and Wests, you’ve got 650,000 people with my artwork in their pantry or back pocket,” he says with his familiar grin while sipping a green juice at Sherwood Coffee Bar (it’s 10 in the morning and he’s already had three coffees).
This week he signed off on a 160-square-metre artwork at Westfield Kotara that explains solar energy (the shopping centre is now powered by its own rooftop solar panels).
At 28, he’s come into his own professionally, backing himself with a strong work ethic and community spirit. Some of his more popular works reflect his own funky surf take on Newcastle culture on every surface imaginable. His work includes posters commemorating the Pasha Bulker grounding, Queens Wharf Tower, the champion ‘97 Knights, and Merewether Carlton rugby club.
His works are full of recognisable places and characters, including his dog Abby. Earlier this year, he did souvenir Surfest cover wraparound poster for the Newcastle Herald.
He also designed the artwork for the skate decks for the first X Games in Australia, held in Sydney last month.
He’s booked out with work projects until mid-2019.
He starts nearly every day watching the sun rise.
“I don’t sleep,” he says. “I was up at 5 o’clock this morning. I watch the sun rise, it’s the only bit of meditation I get out of my whole day.
I feel like the energy that comes up with the sun . . . I sit there as long as I can and then it’s like, my brain’s already cooking, let’s go and get it done.
- Revs
“I go up to the beach, watch the sunrise at Merewether. I get there, it’s pitch black. I watch it until the sun’s five minutes past breach and then, it’s like my brain’s ready. I feel like the energy that comes up with the sun . . I sit there as long as I can and then it’s like, my brain’s already cooking, let’s go and get it done.”
In early December, Revs will open a studio space and gallery at 4/451 Hunter Street, next door to Newy Burger Co.
The gallery will open with a major exhibition of projects Revs has been working on for the last two years, including 20 hand-painted artworks, limited edition prints, and 36 hand-painted skate decks.
Revs envisions the space will also act as an agency for a team of artists who can execute projects, as well as a collection point for people who order through his online store.
He said the business will be called Artdork.
“I guess all artists are dorks in a way,” he says. “Labelling something dorky is cool and quirky in its own way.”
Jim Kellar
Jim Kellar writes about culture, art, food, drinks and music. He's been a journalist at the Newcastle Herald since 1997. jkellar@newcastleherald.com.au
Jim Kellar writes about culture, art, food, drinks and music. He's been a journalist at the Newcastle Herald since 1997. jkellar@newcastleherald.com.au
