Girraween After Fire - No 3

One of a series of abstract work inspired by the colours and spirit of Girraween National Park after the bushfires of 2019.

“No birds or insects, no flush of green, the air - silent and parched, the sooty ground scattered with metallic leaves.
How can Girraween have witnessed such destruction and tragedy, and still be permeating an incredibly strong sense of place, purpose and beauty? Where does it draw its strength from?”

A marine plywood ground, sealed and painted with Atelier acrylic products. May contain Floetrol, but not silicon. The edges are either thinly coated with paint which has run from the surface, or reveal the plywood's laminated layers. Likewise, not all of the face is covered with paint, revealing the outer laminate of natural timber.

Ready to hang with D hooks suited to a professional framing system, plus a nylon string suited to a single wall hook. Has a bump at each corner (to protect the wall).

The surface carries a variety of subtle textures.

Contains various metallic paint colours which are highly reflective in nature.

The combination of paints with varying reflective properties and the intricate surface texture offers a changing display under differing light conditions.

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I am a studious artist, happily working on developing my perceptions of life and exploring ways to express those through art. Geographically settled in the magnificent rural landscape of Tenterfield, close to the NSW/QLD border, I have a purpose built art studio, a supportive family, and no end of inspiration. My time is spent adventuring. For me, being an artist is all about the experience of cycling through challenge, exploration, refinement and expression.

I enjoy handling different drawing and painting mediums, and work with charcoal, pastel, watercolour, acrylic, printing inks and mixed media, exploring the communicative values of various techniques. I strive for balance within an art work, as well as holistically across my art practice. Painting, drawing and printmaking may be listed in the visual arts, but I am very conscious of the tactility and physicality of dry vs wet, large vs small, and the characterisation provided by different tools. I also have a strong interest in the varying contributions of consciousness and sub-consciousness within a work, and the open invitation for new discoveries. I have also waded into the world of ceramics, producing wheel thrown and hand-built forms, decorated and fired with a variety of techniques. There is so much to explore!

The creation of each piece in a series is a truly joyful experience – full of the excitement of adventure and the satisfaction of accomplishment, but also the intense desire to create more, to reinforce and refine my new knowledge. When the series is complete, I am brimming with ideas for new challenges –perhaps integrating that knowledge with other areas of my practice, or extending on a particular idea. The urge to balance my recent activity with others in my practice is very strong however, so it is likely that I will plan a project with opposing processes to navigate my next new adventure.

The pleasure that comes from living with the finished works is almost a separate and new experience. I create enough works that I can share that experience, and hope that they bring pleasure to others. It is very special when a presentation of my vision resonates with the experience and perception of strangers.

I have a continued interest in taking workshops with other artists – to gain insight and appreciation into their processes and ideologies, and look for ways to strengthen my own. I am a student of life, not it’s teacher.