Oreburst was inspired by one of the moments I experience while working in the mine — when the dozer blade and tracks crush and fracture the rock beneath me.
At first, the ground can look almost ordinary. Dark, weathered and muted. But when the rock is smashed open, something completely different is revealed. Beneath the surface are layers of colour — deep blues, brilliant turquoise, ochres, golds and mineral tones — all locked inside the stone.
There is something powerful about that moment. The machinery is not creating the colour; it is uncovering something that has been hidden there for millions of years.
I wanted Oreburst to capture that instant of impact — the energy of the rock breaking apart and the sudden explosion of colour that appears within it.
The central burst represents the rock being forced open, while the surrounding fragments and textures reflect the broken surfaces, dust and mineral layers exposed by the movement of the dozer.
For me, the painting is a reminder that there can be extraordinary beauty beneath what initially appears harsh, dark or ordinary. You just have to break through the surface to see it.
With its energetic movement, rich mineral colours and layered texture, Oreburst is designed to bring a sense of energy and character into a room. The contrasting colours can draw the eye across the surface, while the depth and texture invite you to keep looking and discover something new within the painting. It is a piece intended not only to complement a space, but to become a striking focal point within it.