Breathing in the Bush

Watercolour, Paper, Framed by Artist

32.5cm (W) x 42.5cm (H) x 2cm (D)

Certificate of Authenticity Included
A$220 15% Off Artwork

Framed by Artist

A$187
A$220 15% Off Artwork

Arrives 4–6 Aug

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Artwork Description

You’d think I’d be eager to stay inside in the air conditioning after working all day in outback heat, but after a shower and a bite to eat, the beauty of an outback twilight is irresistible. That’s where my Wanders After Work series started.

This watercolour captures the fading warmth held in the earth, the quiet surrender of the vegetation, and the promise of evening coolness to come. Breathing in the scents of the bush revives the senses and soothes the aches of the day.

Artist Bio

I have worked as a builder, raised children, and kept working steadily since 1989. It wasn’t until a worksite accident in 2018 forced me to pause for two years that I discovered how deeply painting could support the mind, body, and spirit. What began as a way to fill time became a way to restore myself.

Since then, I’ve learned oil and watercolour painting through online study and workshops, finding joy not only in the creative process but also in the community that forms around it. I’m still exploring both mediums and experimenting with different styles, but the one constant is my connection to Australia’s landscapes. They are the places that speak to me most strongly.

My subjects are drawn from the familiar terrain of my life: the Northern Rivers of New South Wales, the Gold Coast of Queensland, the quiet roads of country Victoria, and the vast openness of the Barkly Region in the Northern Territory. I paint in a representational landscape style, guided by a quiet joy in capturing the beauty of scenes that held my attention long after I passed by them.

Often, I’m on the move, rushing to the next job or taking a relaxed drive, when a view draws me in. I find myself stopping, taking a photograph, and returning to it later when I have time to truly reflect. My paintings are my way of revisiting those moments, honouring their beauty, and sharing them with others. Each piece is a pause, an appreciation, and an offering.

Commissions

Donald's studio is in Gold Coast