Artist who lived life in innuendo left an indelible mark
By Amanda Day
WILL (WILLIAM) JOSEPH BLUNDELL: 1946 - 2023
The world has lost a colourful character in the sudden death of Will (William) Blundell. Blundell was a vibrant presence in the Sydney art scene, one of the last survivors of the colourful Bohemian crowd that once graced Kings Cross. He later found his place among kindred spirits in the serene town of Penguin, Tasmania.
Will Blundell was a prolific and extraordinary artist, gifted with a unique talent that left an indelible mark on the art world.
He entered this world unexpectedly on July 8, 1946, which was a surprise for his mother, Elsie, who was only aware, as was her doctor, that she was expecting one child. She was astonished when she and her husband Thomas welcomed twin sons, John and William, into their lives, adding to the demands of post-World War II. Will was the youngest of four children, Leah, Raema and John.
William Blundell outside the Supreme Court in Sydney in 1999.Credit: Jessica Hromas
Will’s father Thomas, a steelworker, was affected by the general strike of three months in 1946 at the time of Will’s birth. His father was a strong unionist and individual who enjoyed the antics of his twin boys.
As identical twins, Will and John’s bond was extraordinary, often causing mischief and confusion even for their mother, who sometimes struggled to tell them apart. The twins’ misadventures occasionally pushed their mother to her wit’s end, yet they were an inseparable pair, fostering a keen sense of kinship with their extended family.
Will was a sensitive child and so anxious as a young man that he sent John to take his driver’s licence test for him. While he did not enjoy school, he was a talented athlete, earning prizes for hockey, running, and tennis. Tennis became a lifelong interest for him.
Innuendo artist William Blundell with a painting for a client.Credit: Steven Siewert
Blundell was close to his twin (also identical) aunts, Bessie and Cassie, and their sister, his beloved Aunty Rita. Bessie and Cassie are today immortalised in the names of Catherine and Elizabeth, his pet whippets who are adjusting to life without him. The family all had a keen interest in genealogy and Blundell’s family heritage included adventurers, artists, weavers and writers.
His artistic journey began in the small community of Woonona, NSW. Blundell always had an interest in graphology – that is, working out how to write in different hands and assessing the age and personality of someone from their handwriting. As a young man, he wrote ditties, letters and poems that demonstrated a keen interest in copying and this was the basis for his innuendoes.
William Blundell who paints copies of famous art works with one of his creations inspired or in the style of William Dobell, 2000.Credit: Fairfax
Blundell lived for many years in a penthouse in Elizabeth Bay, which was full of art, antiques and books. His art was of course what he was most known for. At the age of 20 he started painting and this was his life-long career. He gained knowledge of art techniques from the famous impressionist artist James Jackson. He studied the brushstrokes and art of the Australian masters: Streeton, Roberts, Charles Conder, Frederick McCubbin, E. Phillips Fox and, later, Whiteley. He was prolific, with the production of an estimated 8000 paintings over the course of his lifetime.
His life has not been without controversy: he appeared multiple times on Four Corners, in court and in a range of media articles as he was found to be a creator of “innuendos”. He often left clues in his art, recognisable to family and close friends, that he was taking the mickey. A cigarette, a hat, a duck, a ship, the lubricious lips of Kerry Packer were all things that Blundell would add to create humour in his unsigned works. But still, he often confused Australia’s best art critics, auction houses and galleries. In recent weeks, these auction houses have been sad to lose a colourful character in Blundell.
Will Blundell at his Bondi Home with his latest creation “Innuendo” for his forthcoming sale, 2007.Credit: Dean Sewell
Blundell was a keen researcher, going to great lengths to prove the provenance of a painting or piece of colonial furniture and I often assisted him with this shared passion. He had encyclopaedic knowledge of Australian art.
Despite the notoriety he enjoyed, it was the quiet life of Penguin that he craved, where he lived for almost 20 years. He made many friends there and this small community has lost a colourful character.
Blundell is survived by his sisters, Dr Leah Day and Mrs Raema Chudziak, his brother in-laws Ronald and Richard, nieces and nephews. Blundell had many people in his life who supported him and is remembered by his friends and people who formed part of the wonderful tapestry of people that he wove around himself.
His eccentric nature and personality will live in our hearts. His art will continue to captivate us.