Catbird at Petrie Creek

The piece is inspired by my daily walks along a creek in the town of Nambour situated on the Sunshine Coast of SE Queensland, Australia.
My walks enable me to feel connected with the world I live in and this image tells the story of the catbird [Ailuroedus crassirostris] commonly called this for its call which resembles a strangled cat. Due to its coloration and habit of hiding in the foliage, it is often heard but very difficult to see clearly. As an avid photographer, I was fortunate enough to get a few great shots of this pigeon-sized bird while feeding on berries from native plants. It seemed so happy with the treats it was eating I was inspired to use my photos as source images to make this painting.
The message I felt he was showing me was to be happy with what you've got. This message is the underlying feeling that I had when making up the layers that came to the finished product.
Watching the bird work its way amongst the foliage made me feel the connection it has with the world he lives in and I wanted to display this and give the viewer the same feeling of satisfaction and connection.
The underpainting was made with acrylic and then I added a collage of some of the foliage I collected from the same area and worked it into the painting cementing it with impasto. The next layer was the application of oil paints to make the picture come alive.
Painting a 'green 'picture can be very challenging and getting the balance and variation was critical in giving it the feeling I want to share with my audience.
With many layers, it has a depth that takes a few days between each application to achieve drying times and to get the values of color to bring my intent to life. I know that whoever loves these images truly gets the message and intent that this artist imbues.

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I lived my life creating and learning about arts and Crafts from all directions. Different cultures from Southeast Asia and Indigenous art from NZ and Australia also inform my art and style.
I am inspired by natural elements, both flora, and fauna, and more recently by how humans influence the environment. My voice is developing but appreciating the beauty that we are surrounded by everywhere on this earth is the foundation for everything I do.
Using repurposed or recycled products also underpins my daily practices, choosing to repaint over a bad painting or recycle someone else's work that has been disposed of, means I don't always start with a brand new canvas or board.
I am continuously learning and testing myself with new techniques and upskilling whenever I find a practice that I haven't used before. So my work is always changing. Sometimes for the better,
and sometimes I learn a lesson that doesn't work for my own applications.
I love finishing with oils and currently creating mixed media using acrylics underpaintings and incorporating collage, especilly from natural elements like leaves and flowers. This connects the work with the environment it represents.

In as much as I have had a quite varied and interesting working life, I believe that you are who you are TODAY not who you once were. At my now mature age, of 68, I am choosing to focus on the things that have always been my happy place but that were always relegated to the hobby place in my life. I have now determined to produce a body of work suitable for exhibition. In the meantime, I am making limited edition Prints on art paper and canvas giclee.