Michael Dattilo-Rubbo
(Mike Rubbo)
A Short Biography BY Kerrie Larosa
Mike Rubbo likes to think of himself as the 'resident village artist' of Avoca Beach, NSW. Although born in Australia, he had lived up, until recently, in Canada for 30 years, where he built quite a world known name for himself as a documentary film producer. Some of his works include the Emmy Award winning "Vincent and Me'. It was the making of this film that rekindled Mike's interest in painting. Born and bred to a family of artists, most notably his grandfather, the flamboyant Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo who taught many of Australia's leading artists in the first half of this century. Mike decided the acid test would be to recreate van Gogh's paintings for his film 'Vincent and Me', himself. Which he did with great skill and has since taken on painting with similar style and attitude. Mike moved back to Australia in search of another 'village' atmosphere to continue his painting and found the lovely seaside village of Avoca on NSW's central coast where he has lived for the past 3 years. While still involved in the film industry, painting is his main passion now and its not unusual to see Mike setting up his easel and paints in the streets of Avoca capturing the local people and displaying them in his 'rogues gallery' - the local butcher shop. A curiosity to the locals at first, now more a gathering place at Robbie's butcher shop to see who Mike’s latest 'victim' has been. Mike's 'plein aire' approach to painting and the warm colours of the sunny Australian village life, have given his art a unique flavour which he likes to encourage others to take on and often hands a passer-by a brush and canvas to 'have a go' themselves to see why it is so enjoyable!
Mike hard at it !