Black Summer

Black Summer, 2020 - Original oil painting by Leonie McIntosh

Finalist in the NEAP (National emerging art prize, 2021)

Painted with permission from the photographer, the original reference photograph was taken by Alex Ellinghousen, an Australian press gallery journalist. Alex captured the enormity of the devastating time in this image of exhausted NSW RFS firefighter Chris Montgomery after defending a property in Bombay.

Before the chaos that has engulfed life over the last 2 years, there was the chaos of the 2020 bushfires, killing 34 people and destroying 5900 buildings. A powerful reminder that Mother Nature is both beautiful and fiercely unpredictable. Signed on the front with a certificate of authenticity.

Framed in a beautiful raw oak float frame ready to hang. It will arrive carefully wrapped and boxed so it arrives to you in perfect condition. This painting was created to bring a little joy to your day, with my quirky pop art style, and if you have come this far, I'd say it has resonated with your style!

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Leonie McIntosh B.1980 Lismore, Northern NSW

Welcome to my Bluethumb page. I am a part time artist, and have been painting on and off since my teenage years where at around 14 my mum took me to weekend art classes where I learnt everything oil painting and became obsessed with the medium. I have always enjoyed painting realistically, as I find the process quite meditative and relaxing. I had access mostly to a set of Encyclopedia britannica and Australian National Geographic magazines, where I copied from pictures of nature and indigenous Australians.

As the years have passed, my style has remained realistic, but now with more of a pop style that often incorporates objects of disproportionate size and unusual quirks. I love the idea of a twist of the expected, and try to evoke a sense of silliness and play in my ideas. As someone born in the 80's, I absolutely love a little nostalgia and bringing a painting to life that give that surge of childhood feel-good emotional connection, because that is where the sweet spot is. I am also fortunate enough to live by the beach, which I love to paint and is the perfect free flow of blues and greens, with less restriction and so, depending on my mood and life situation at the time is something I love to paint when I'm feeling a little more whimsy.