Trav Hendrick draws colourful cartoons. Born in Dandenong and living in Drouin for the past 30 years, Trav has focused his time on creating his own cartoon characters. While attending Drouin Secondary College he was diagnosed with mild autism. He finds communicating with people difficult – art is his way of conveying his feelings and emotions.
Prismacolor pencils is his preferred medium, although he has experimented with watercolour, and pastel he finds pencil and paint pens more controlling. He is self-taught, starting his work with a grey lead pencil, then goes over the design with black ink lines and colours. During his school years his inspirations were Walt Disney and Matt Groening from The Simpson’s and is inspired to turn his pets and favourite animals into cartoon characters. He has over 100 characters. Being isolated socially he has found solace in his artworks.
He sold his first artwork in his first art show he entered which gave him enormous happiness and inspired him to continue entering shows. With many encouraging awards his highlights have included being selected to exhibit in ‘New Energies’ Contemporary Artists of Gippsland showcasing ‘Family Pets’. The Baw Baw Shire Council acquired ‘Pastel Paradise’ in 2004, and he also won an acquisition competition for council’s bag design in 2008 titled ‘Baw Baw Seasons’.
A quietly spoken man Trav has held many solo exhibitions. In recent years his cartoons have featured on mouse mats, caps and desk-top calendars. His favourite artwork is ‘Medusa Revenge’ that took 6 months to complete. This work has very fine detailed lines. ‘Fire Fox’ artworks is his original creation that he is very proud of.
Trav’s dream is to turn his cartoons into animations in the next few years.
