BACKGROUND
I live in a rural setting adjoining the Morton National Park,
New South Wales overlooking a majestic escarpment. The views
from the top of the hill are panoramic and are constantly changing
through the sunshine, rain, clouds and mists. The highlands
provide an ongoing challenge to capture the elusive effects
of colour, space and light.
The paintings are in oils on canvas and regardless of subject
matter all have expressive brushwork, tactile textures, and
an emphasis of light/colour and space. The works range in sizes
from approximately 2 metres x 2 metres down to very small pieces.
A BRIEF COMMENT ON MY WORK
Landscapes
The landscape paintings have been an important part of my work
since we moved to Bundanoon in the Southern Highlands eight
years ago.
‘Beyond The Horizon’ oil on canvas 215 cms x 185cms cms invites
the viewer into the scene resulting in a sensory experience
immersed in vast space and the ever changing effects of light
and atmospheric conditions. This large work could be considered
a virtual reality in that the viewer can almost walk into the
composition. Whereas the small painting ‘Perisher’ 75 cms x
45 cms is a more intimate experience but still demonstrating
a dynamic, expressive quality.
Abstracts
Many of the landscape paintings have resulted in abstraction
to capture what I term the ‘essence’ of the scene. Examples
of these works are: ‘Rainforest’ 75 cms x 75 cms and ‘Dusk’
61 cms x 51 cms; these abstracts allow the viewer to experience
the ‘mood’and as such to interpret and seek a personal appreciation,
often it is a ‘feeling’ in contrast to a reality.
Still Life
Although the subject matter in these paintings is more prescriptive
than some others there are strong tactile textures and an
expressive feeling to the works. ‘Caramelised Figs’ 61 cms
x 51 cms is such a painting; a box canvas with powerful brushwork
and rich colour. Similarly ’Pomegranates’ 120 cms x 90 cms
which also demonstrates a strong sense of design within the
composition.
Figurative
Some of the figurative paintings are derived from personal
experiences and childhood memories. The small works ‘Cartwheels’
89 cms x 76 cms and ‘Being Dumped’ 84 cms x 76 cms are representative
of childhood memories. The large painting ‘Tess’ (inspired
by ‘Tess of The Durbervilles’ by Thomas Hardy) 152 cms x
125 cms is a reflective work of a woman who has experienced
life’s hardships yet remains strong.
To view paintings see gallery |
