Flat as mint

Not all heroes catch waves. In “Dad’s Day,” a lone Minties wrapper reveals a familiar Aussie scene: dad, board under arm, staring wistfully at a flat horizon.

This hyperreal oil painting captures the quiet heartbreak of a surf mission gone bust—no swell, no glory, just salty disappointment. Framed in ornate white, it’s a wry tribute to all the dads chasing waves (and coming home dry).

38 x 46cm oil on birch panel, framed in a glossy white ornate frame with a string across the back, ready to hang

Framed dimensions - 38 x 46cm

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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.