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Change. The Paddington house is sold and now Point Lookout, North Stradbroke Island is home.
The beaches here are in a constant state of change. Sand moving. Rhythm of tides. Turtle tracks. Whales on the move. Koalas, kangaroos, dolphins, manta rays, sea eagles ...... Moon rising from the Pacific. Sun sinking into Moreton Bay. Many new subjects to paint. The theme of change continues perhaps at a slower pace. A relaxed rhythm on this island beside Brisbane.
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Winter. Brisbane. Queensland. Fantastic. The time since my last blog has flown by so quickly. It has been a very productive time with many creative ideas explored. I have completed thirty paintings for my next solo exhibition, 'Deconstruction', and hope to produce several more. The colourful, acrylic paintings in my upcoming exhibition include a variety of subjects. These relate to themes including rural Queensland; Brisbane's changing built environment; 'BIG' icons (think Pineapple, Cow, Banana etc.); galahs and lorikeets; European snapshots and several whimsical works inspired by poetry and song lyrics. Several light boxes will add to the exciting variety in this exhibition. Now the details: 'Deconstruction' Where: Graydon Gallery, New Farm Exhibition dates: 24/11/2015 - 06/12/2015 Exhibition Open: Daily 10am - 5pm Opening Night: Friday 27th November 6pm - 8pm Spring! Bright skies. Warmer light. A busy August limited my time for painting. A XXXX brewery painting has been undercoated. This ‘undercoat’ is several layers with colours close to what I want and the detail almost in place. The finishing coats will be applied shortly but I will need 3 or 4 uninterrupted days to achieve this. The first painting in a series inspired by North Stradbroke Island is also being undercoated. A unique painting I completed for a recent group exhibition is available for sale. This painting is on a skateboard deck. Titled ‘Sheep Skate’, this artwork is a tribute to Pro Hart’s interpretation of the Australian outback. The skateboard deck is for sale for $350 (excluding P&H).  'Sheep Skate' (Top)  ‘Sheep Skate’ (Underneath)
Enjoy spring. Beware of swooping magpies and erratic lorikeets energized by Grevillea nectar. Winter Rolls on. "Old Tin Mine, Cornwall" and "Stonehenge" are paintings recently completed. These acrylic on canvas works are 51cm x 40cm and capture historical moments to man's mark on his environment. Isolation and decay are obvious but also the strength of the natural environment with purple heather and red poppies growing profusely in very exposed conditions.
Three of my artworks will be exhibited at the 28th Annual Downlands College Art Exhibition in Toowoomba. This show is officially opened on Friday 8th August and continues until 1:30pm on Monday 11th August. I have taken a lot of photos recently of Brisbane's inner-west and North Stradbroke Island. Always I am interested in the amount of change but also am reassured by the warmth and familiarity I feel in these places. A new high rise is soaring above Milton's Castlemaine Brewery. From my verandah the iconic XXXX sign is no longer surrounded by blue sky but grey scaffolding. Early in July a newly packaged beer product was delivered to the Caxton and Paddo pubs. The deliveries were made by Castlemaine's old horse-drawn carriage and their 1920's Ford Truck. Many photos. Many ideas. Hopefully several paintings to record these moments. My childhood farm is still 'home' to me, as is Paddo. This feeling of home comes to me each time I drive off the barge at Straddie. Point Lookout is one of the best locations on Australia's east coast. More than ever I love the flora and fauna. the sense of isolation on an empty beach is amazing. Much inspiration.  'Cunningham's Gap' Following the recent revamp of my website, I have decided now is an appropriate time to maintain a regular blog to inform art lovers. This July posting finds me working on a new series of paintings and experimenting with light boxes. The paintings have no particular unifying theme but many record man's mark on his environment. 'Stonehenge' and 'Cornish Tin Mine' are works in progress. Also I can't wait to paint several snapshots of the rapidly changing inner-Brisbane built environment. The light boxes are a new format for me. I am learning as I create various works. The most pleasing to date is 'Art Gallery'. Using a Penfolds 'Grandfather Tawny Port' wine presentation box, I have created a mini-gallery with eleven paintings displayed using three levels of lighting. 'Volkswagon' is an almost complete 3D collage with lighting. My next solo exhibition is still at concept stage but may happen late 2015/early 2016. During the intervening time I have and will exhibit in group events. This year my paintings have been hung at the Stanthorpe Art Show, Winton's Waltzing Matilda Art Show and the Brisbane Rotary Art Spectacular. Two major works sold at the latter event. The Downlands College Art Exhibition occurs later this month with two of my paintings and a skateboard deck, painted as a tribute to Pro Hart, to be displayed. I have entered two paintings into two major Australian Art competitions. 'Cunningham's Gap', a 93cm x 185cm triptyche has been sent to the Wynne Art Prize.  'Neither Black Nor White' 'Neither Black Nor White', an acrylic 183cm x 121cm, is entered in the Sulman Art Prize. This painting is a surrealist comment inspired by lyrics from a Katie Melua song:
"The piano keys Are black and white But they sound like a million colours in your mind" Enjoy our Brisbane winter with its softer colours, clear atmosphere and revealing light. Look out for my August blog. |
AuthorI believe that as an artist I should record my world, my place, my time. Archives
September 2017
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