Ross Watson is one of Australia’s best known gay artists, with a stellar career that spans 20 years of both local and international acclaim. His exquisitely painted surreal images blend past and present, real and fantasy with the male form to create images that captive who ever encounters them. Big names collect his work, and big names often feature in them too.

Same Same caught up with this gay art juggernaut [pictured right, with Sir Elton John] who is about to launch a coffee table book called ‘Untitled#’.

Your new book ‘Untitled#’ essentially documents 15 years of your brilliant works. You’ve published a book before right? How did this book come about?

Yes my first book is the limited edition, OVERVIEW, which was released four years back. The new book Untitled# came about after German publisher Bruno Gmunder visited my Berlin exhibition and said he wanted to do his first art book in 20 years on my work.

Which of the works that you’ve created have the most fond memories?

One is a painting featuring my partner, titled Stephen, Sitges, [pictured third] which was inspired by the most wonderful holiday we had in that gay old Spanish town, after we’d been working very hard with an exhibition of my work in London for the Europride Festival.

In your 20 or so years as an artist, you’ve achieved so much. What have been some of the biggest career highlights for you?

Thank you so much. I’m very grateful for a variation of highlights – seeing the response from a model when he sees his painting finished, various museums collecting my art, introducing the footballers I’ve painted including Ian Roberts to Elton John, who later performed a song dedicating it to us was a great highlight. Watching Jake Shears fall to his knees in our gallery to massage Paul Licuria’s injured leg comes a close second!

You’ve painted some of the most beautiful men in Australia, and some pretty big names too. Who would you really like to paint? Who is on your wish list?

Now that I think of it… The Gaga as a guy!

What plans have you got for the book now that it’s out? Will you do national or international book launch tours perhaps?

I’m very excited about the launches which will feature some of my models quietly reading the book (they’ll have to be high out of reach!). First Launch/Exhibition is Melbourne October 9, followed by Sydney in February, though everyone can preview, turning and viewing pages of the book at rosswatson.com

Ross Watson will launch his new book Untitled# on 9 October 2010, 4-6pm at the Ross Watson Gallery in Melbourne.

Check out our shapshot preview of images from Ross Watson’s new book here.