I painted this 'en plain air', outdoors while camping in the Northern Territory bush.
The scene is at Wugularr(Beswick) Lake, Northern Territory. Its a beautiful place with a waterfall further around the escarpment. Many fresh water crocodiles swim in the lake. I was inspired by the colour of the rocks and trees, with the light creating a striped pattern on the rocks. Thank you to the Traditional Owners of Wugularr (Beswick) who gave us permission to camp on country.
As I work I am concerned with mark-making, to capture the feeling of a surface, which may contrast with the surrounding textures. For example, in this work I have used a variety to tools to scrape and work with the paint to build up a textured surface representing the pandanus and trees, which you can see in the detailed image. This built up texture contrasts with the smooth, serene surface of the water and reflections.
I am influenced by Doug Wright, an Australian painter, with his textural approach and strong use of colour. Also, the Australian Impressionist tradition, specifically Roberts, Streeton and McCubbin.