Iron Trees - Turquoise #1

Semi abstract landscape painting using professional quality acrylic paint with palette knife, wedge and brush.

40x50x3.8cm thick edge gallery wrapped Italian cotton canvas. Ready to hang unframed. Sides painted black umber. Signed on the front with details on back.

This painting is from a series based on the ironbark trees where I live. I came across the term “iron trees” reading a short story written in the early 20th century, “Bungully” by Brian James, referring to some of the trees in the NSW coastal scrub. I’m guessing it was an older term for the big coarsely barked eucalyptus trees called ironbarks today.

I am in awe of these big trees - their age, stature and presence blows me away. They make great art subjects.

I find their bark fascinating. The texture, from rough deeply fissured trunks to long smooth branches, and the multitude of colours from black bushfire scars, earthy reds and blue greys, to the ghostly silver of the upper canopy in moonlight.

The view of them as I walk in the bush is interesting to me. I like how their trunks align with each other and the changing perspectives as I move. I play around with this in my work.

Colour is fun and I have chosen some that aren’t exact to these species of trees but are intended to delight the eye.

Multiple layers of glaze have been used to achieve rich colour and depth. The painting has been finished with a gloss varnish to further enhance the colours.

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I grew up and live near the beach, bush and mountains of south-eastern Australia. That natural world is what I love and what inspires my work.

As a kid, I was always drawing or painting. Crafting figurines from the clay that was the soil in our backyard. Curious about animals and plants.

I studied art after leaving school but then put it aside. I have more time now and am back to it.

I like to use watercolour and acrylic.

I have fun with the looseness of watercolour. The unexpected results. The one chance.

I like the deep colour that can be achieved with acrylic - layering with glazes, scratching back details, creating texture with impasto and coarse brushes.

As for influences. Lots. Monet and Fred Williams are stand outs. I am always impressed by art that captures light well and form simply. I play with various styles, mostly semi-abstract and expressive, sometimes stylised.

The focus in my work is colour and light. The play of colours against each other. Subtle or dazzling. The momentary quicksilver nature of light. The contrast and atmosphere it creates. I want to bring these two elements together to capture something of the essence of nature. To create art that might, in turn, resonate with the viewer and remind them too of their connection to the natural world.

Art Education
Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts)
Newcastle College of Advanced Education 1982-84

Exhibitions
2021 AGL Port Stephens Art Competition
2nd Prize