Out of Reach

A quick preview of the latest painting Im working on called "Out of Reach". This was in response to wanting very much to stay living up in the tropics, hence the dog straining at the leash trying to get hold of a juicy mango. She lies in the shade, dreaming of the ocean and the heat.

Tethered

The time spent walking in solitary meander on the beach, alongside an everchanging and all encompassing environment was both calming and inspirational. I always kept my ears open for the cry of the hawk and upon sighting it was reminded yet again of my being bound to ground yet yearn for flight in all its reality and metaphor. I was surrounded by nature and it entered me and changed me and I relished it. I drew on a whim on the sand, so freeing and fun. And I painted this to show how I felt about the push and pull of it all. At once grounded, drawn to the earth and yet the tug of seeing the freedom that is just out of reach.

Rising Tide

I have spent the last few weeks by the ocean and have been kept constant company by the ebb and flow of the tides and it has comforted me. I am writing and reading and unfortunately not painting as much as I would like, but maybe it is the time to just write. This painting "Rising Tide' was completed before I left for Queensland. A luminous work that suggests the gilded cage, living as we do but feeling trapped just the same. This time the bird looks on at the man inside the cage and if he had wings he could fly out. A ladder awaits, there is a way out but the test is how to do this. We see his struggle, the wall is transparent but he does not see us. I haven't had much or any actually response on this work and welcome a comment if anyone so chooses to venture their opinion.

Rising Tide

oil on canvas 2012

Great Exhibition if I may say so myself

Well first of all I'd like to say a very hearty thank you to all the wonderful folk who came to the opening and it such a really enjoyable evening. The turn out was fabulous and the buzz amazing. I was caught out on the back foot a bit as I was down the back in the office talking to people who were interested in buying artwork and it took a long time before I was able to make my way into the gallery space and join in.  My special piece A Gentle Reminder went to a new home as did BirdBoy so I was very pleased that they were so appreciated. I had several smaller works that also went to new owners and the raffle painting Waiting was eagerly sought after too. With a lovely opening speech by Margi Gibb, the show was an overall success. I had a few people drop by over the following weekend and despite the dreadful weather and my sharp decline due to the flu it ended well too. So another solo show, over 30 works and in the top floor of an office building in an obscure street with no frontage to speak of. But worth the effort. Some pics of the night.

Step up to the plate she said

Ah yes, step up. Message to self. Fortunately i translated the thought into action and in the process created my latest piece, called ironically, Step Up. A bold, colourful and dramatic but essentially very simple and clear. I love the juxtaposition of the yellow and blue that create a resonance, with the head balanced and the strong graphic of the eye looking up to the ladder. 
It felt like a fitting image for the conclusion of the show so I'm pleased it worked out as well as it did. Love to know what you think or better yet, come along to the show and see it in the flesh, coz it looks much better in the real.

Listening to the Dreaming in the making

The Process of UnMaking and Making a Painting

I sometimes paint over a painting over several times before I arrive at the image I was trying to achieve. Often the original work looks so different like its final incarnation and I find the journey on retrospect quite interesting. With the iphone on hand I am more likely to record the process so now have the unfolding of the work as a visual record. The work that became "Listening to the Dreaming" was created from my journey into learning about Aboriginal culture and the power of art in sharing and expressing their knowledge and spiritual connection to land.