Emu Portrait

This artwork is a striking watercolour portrait of an emu's head, rendered in a loose and expressive style. The overall aesthetic leans towards a contemporary, somewhat abstract interpretation of wildlife art. While not directly imitating a specific famous artist or movement, it shares a dynamism with Impressionism through its focus on capturing the essence and emotion of the subject rather than precise detail. The brushwork is fluid and energetic, characterized by wet-on-wet watercolour techniques that allow colours to bleed and blend organically, creating soft edges and spontaneous splatters. Fine, calligraphic lines are used sparingly to define features like feathers and the beak. The colour palette is primarily earthy, with rich browns, greys, and blacks for the bird's plumage, contrasted dramatically by intense, vibrant red eyes that serve as a focal point. Lighter washes and subtle hints of ochre and rust add depth and warmth. The texture is varied, with smooth washes in some areas and more granular, textured effects created by the pigment pooling and drying. The surface treatment emphasizes the transparency and luminosity of watercolour. Compositionally, the emu's face dominates the frame, presented frontally with an intense gaze, cropped to emphasize its striking features and the raw energy of the application. The background is largely white space, allowing the subject to stand out and drawing attention to the expressive use of paint. The medium is clearly watercolour, evident in the characteristic translucent layers, water bloom effects, and delicate pigment interactions.

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About Me!

I grew up in the small village of Perthville about 12 miles south of Bathurst, NSW, Australia. The first 11 years of my life were spent on a farm where I developed an affinity with the Australian bush.

I didn't start to seriously paint until high school where I studied art as an elective subject. At the completion of High school I entered the field of computing and have had many technical and managerial roles since that time. Needless to say, art took a back seat to life.

At the age of 45 I met a wonderful woman who I ended up marrying. Debbie-Lee revitalized my interest in drawing and painting, and encouraged me at every turn. She is my muse. I begun with some drawing classes where I developed my interest in charcoal as a medium. I also played with watercolor and acrylics, but it wasn't until I discovered oils, that I really found my comfort zone.

I like to think of myself as a bit of an eclectic artist. My day job gave me the luxury of not having to paint for the wider audience of consumers so I could try different subjects, styles, mediums etc. Depending on my mood at the time I alternated between portraiture, the human figure, still life, Birds & Animals and Australian landscapes. Sprinkled here and there are some frivolous works that I do occasionally just to break the monotony.

I am almost completely self-taught. In 1998, I completed a three-month figure drawing class at the Workshop Arts Center at Willoughby, Sydney, under the tutelage of Ros Deveaux. I also started but didn't finish an acrylics class at the same centre with Sarah Aylward. I also started but did not finish a ten-week introduction to oil painting at the Royal Art Society, North Sydney.

Other than that, I have just experimented with different mediums and techniques. I'm still learning (I will always be learning).

I now live at Forster on the NSW Mid North Coast.

I hope you enjoy what you see.

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Pete

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Exhibitions and Shows!​

2000 - Deerbrook Gallery, Humble TX, USA (solo)

2004 - Art House Gallery, Sydney, Australia (solo)

2012 - Beattie Street Gallery, Balmain, NSW, Australia

2013 - Lentil as Anything, Newtown, Australia (solo)

2017 - Carre De Artiste Gallery, Paris, France

2017 - Almost Naked & Nude, Hallidays Point, Australia

2019 - Gallery 109, Manly, NSW, Australia