Artist quality oil paints on 12oz stretched canvas, ready to hang
I am inspired by the peculiar, inquisitive and sometimes mischievous nature of animals and enjoy capturing each individual animals’ uniqueness that they display. I spend a great deal of time immersed in nature taking in the natural wonders that our wildlife presents.
Painting in oils my pieces start with a rough sketch and then a messy under-painting; I like to keep things free and wild allowing the animal to form with progressing layers. I pay particular attention to the eyes of the animals’ early in my painting process, as I feel this captures the sole of the image; and it’s not until the eye is perfect that I can confidently finish a piece.
I generally work from a photograph and only pay close attention to it when creating the essence of the animal. With is piece I have worked from several photographs of a local cockatoo living in the gardens in Hamilton. I often visit this cockatoo with my children and play songs for him to dance to; he certainly knows how to entertain. My love for the sulphur crested cockatoo comes from visiting my grandparents as a child and spending time with their pet cocky. I am grateful of this cockatoo and his friend, as it allows, not only my children, by the whole community to appreciate this Australian Iconic bird close up.