Hot Seat

This painting is a progression of my my fire and smoke series of paintings inspired by life in the Wheatbelt and Great Southern WA. The image for this painting has been in my mind for many years and it has taken some time to gather enough visual material together to realise it. The idea was sparked after seeing a classic school chair chucked onto a farm fire pile on my way to Perth from the Wheatbelt. I have always admired the humble empty chair and it has featured in my paintings since the beginning of my practise. Perhaps it is for the quiet air of possibility and the narrative it offers. A moments pause to engage, reflect and consider. This painting has a beautiful warm glow thanks to the colour glazing and paint layering techniques used. It adds light and warmth to any space.

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Artist Statement

I have been a practising figurative oil painter since graduating from ECU with a B.A. Visual Arts (major in painting) in 2003. I use traditional multi-layered glazing techniques and am drawn to subjects that reflect my passion for lighting, allegory and mood.

My long-time fascination with fire, smoke and atmospheric landscapes began when living in the WA Wheatbelt. Stubble burns are used annually, prior to seeding, to remove past crop remnants, pests and unwanted seeds. Fire is both a constructive tool and a destructive force and I enjoy considering this duality together with the human desire to control our environment.

My paintings address the push-pull effect of fire by enticing the viewer in with soft, semi-abstract, shifting pastel colours juxtaposed with strong blackened earth shapes and occasional flame details.
Through my work I am looking to share my appreciation for the beauty and fear invoked by natural world and promote an acceptance of our humble place within it.

I currently work out of my studio in Albany WA where I am creating a new series or landscape paintings. I also take on commissions and run occasional painting courses.

Recent achievements include winning the 2017 Bluethumb Art Prize, 2015 City of Stirling Print Award, the 2013 Albany Art Prize People’s Choice Award, and placing as a national finalist in 2018 Collie Art Prize, 2013 Black Swan Prize for Heritage and the 2012 Black Swan Prize for Portraiture. Works are held in various private and public collections.