What Lies Beneath - Still Life 2

Riverbanks around Shepparton are a tapestry of exposed tree roots - signposts of environmental degradation. But at the same time the roots and the banks are beautiful and fascinating. They always prompt a discussion about nature, resilience and our part in the web.
This is painted in oil on gesso board. I also love the sheen that Damar varnish brings.

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I've painted all my life, but I took a 30-year break when the mortgage, work as a journalist, kids, life and lawn mowing got in the way.
I'm interested in landscape and environmental scenes and our human place within them from both a positive and a negative viewpoint. I belong to a plein air group in my area and we go out on location regularly, but I wouldn't call myself a plein air painter. I do love Monet and Turner, but I'm too distracted by surrealists like Dali, Ernst and Klee, as well as weirdos like Kandinsky, Franz Marc and Jackson Pollock. Basically, I like colour, movement, light and art that speaks. Well, that's enough to go on with.