Almanac Art: Introducing Darren ‘DJ’ Williams

Earlier this year I was introduced to the artwork of DJ Williams which focuses on footy from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

 

Having enjoyed the art work and the story in his first Almanac piece South Melbourne v Carlton and the 1909 VFL season I contacted DJ to welcome and congratulate him and invite him to become a member.

 

He has taken a really interesting path to become an artist. After leaving school to get a job, he was a forklift driver for many years before deciding to go to uni. He knew nothing of the world of tertiary education and, being a mature age student, did not really get into student life. He studied Anthropology and Australian History at Deakin University. He was taught Sports History by Almanac member, the highly-respected soccer historian Roy Hay. Other lecturers included John Perry who wrote a history of the Stawell Gift. He really enjoyed the old school lecturers who were brilliant story-tellers and had been in many fields doing research through Asia, Africa and the Pacific. He was invited to do honours in Anthropology. He wrote his thesis on the effects of tourism in Bali.

 

DJ continued to work in his day job while giving time to paint and draw and to do a mountain of work on footy history – more of that later. He is now having a crack at being a full-time artist. We wish him well.

 

So, welcome DJ.

 

Here are some of his recent paintings. I have not titled them – interested to see if anyone can pick them. Add suggestions in the comments. They are for sale if you are interested.

 

You can contact DJ at [email protected]

 

 

Painting 1

 

 

Painting 2

 

Painting 3

 

Painting 4

 

Painting 5

 

Painting 6

About John Harms

JTH is a writer, publisher, speaker, historian. He is publisher and contributing editor of The Footy Almanac and footyalmanac.com.au. He has written columns and features for numerous publications. His books include Confessions of a Thirteenth Man, Memoirs of a Mug Punter, Loose Men Everywhere, Play On, The Pearl: Steve Renouf's Story and Life As I Know It (with Michelle Payne). He appears (appeared?) on ABCTV's Offsiders. He can be contacted [email protected] He is married to The Handicapper and has three school-age kids - Theo, Anna, Evie. He might not be the worst putter in the world but he's in the worst four. His ambition was to lunch for Australia but it clashed with his other ambition - to shoot his age.

Comments

  1. Citrus Bob says

    I have been lucky enough to show some of DJ’s work and the most recent Art of football Exhibition in Mildura. 2 of his works have been sold and the many people who visited the exhibition enjoyed his work immensely.
    Some of his work is now on show at the Cafe de Caravan on the banks of the Murray River in Mildura.

  2. Yvette Wroby says

    Brilliant work and great story DJ. Sorry we missed you for recent Aussie Rules Passion and Pain Exhibition.

  3. bring back the torp says

    Congratulations DJ on your magnificent artwork -& contributions to the history of the game.
    Keep up the great work.

  4. I appreciate your support Citrus Bob, thankyou

  5. I know nothing abut art – but I now what I like.
    And I really like all these.
    Brilliant stuff, DJ.

  6. bob.speechley says

    I love your interest in the historical aspects of the game as well as the impressive results.

    I’m sure if you had an exhibition you would be handsomely rewarded.

    congratulations and good luck.

    Bob

Leave a Comment

*