On the Salt

On the Salt is a grand, immersive painting—180cm wide by 120cm tall—that sweeps the viewer into an aerial journey over the shimmering expanse of an outback salt lake. Painted from a striking fisheye perspective, it gives the sensation of flying high above the landscape, like looking out from the window of a mail plane crossing the inland desert.

The vast white surface of the salt lake stretches beneath, luminous and surreal, curving toward the distant horizon where land and sky blur in a soft, abstract haze. Far below, three tiny black dots—motorbike riders—traverse the salt, dwarfed by the immense scale of the lake. Their presence adds a spark of life, a suggestion of motion and story in an otherwise timeless and silent world.

This painting is a tribute to the thrill and solitude of remote travel. Roger Drennan draws directly from his own adventures across the outback, having journeyed through landscapes like this on horseback and motorcycle, experiencing the pulse of the land firsthand. The painting captures both the freedom and the smallness one feels in such immense country.

On the Salt invites viewers to feel the exhilaration of the open sky and the silence of the salt. It brings scale, perspective, and awe into a space—perfect for collectors who are drawn to the spirit of exploration and the beauty of Australia’s vast, untamed interiors.

Materials & Techniques:
Acrylic on stretched canvas, painted with a combination of brushwork and palette knife techniques. The textured application gives the surface movement and light play, while the expansive composition invites viewers to stand back and be transported.

Follow

Roger Drennan – Outback Storyteller in Paint

Roger Drennan is a South Australian artist whose lifelong passion for painting is deeply connected to the dramatic beauty of the Flinders Ranges and the outback. Born in Port Augusta and raised in Horrocks Pass, Roger's early years as a stockman instilled in him a profound respect for the land—its shapes, shadows, and untamed spirit. These elements continue to inspire his richly textured and vibrantly coloured acrylic landscapes.

Trained in his youth by acclaimed artist and printmaker Charles Bannon, Roger won the prestigious Athelney Prize for Art in 1960. Since then, his work has featured in both solo and group exhibitions across Australia, including at the highly regarded Bonython and Greenhill Galleries. His paintings are held in private collections and are highly collectable for their unique perspective and storytelling depth.

Roger’s distinct style blends an aerial “fisheye” viewpoint with expressive texture and colour, capturing both the grandness and the grit of arid inland Australia. From sweeping ridgelines to the intimate details of bush tracks, Roger paints what he knows—scenes shaped by decades of exploration and labour.

Beyond his art, Roger is a well-known local character—horseman, bushman, adventurer, and mentor. He has worked across industries including stock and station oversight, wild horse running, truck transport, and driver training. His life journey has taken him through some of the country’s most remote landscapes, from the Flinders Ranges to the Simpson Desert, often by motorcycle or horseback.

This firsthand experience of Australia’s inland has expanded Roger’s subject matter to include transport, industrial scenes, and nostalgic glimpses of rural life. His work reflects a deep knowledge of land and machine, story and structure—shaped as much by his time operating earthmoving equipment as by his time in the saddle.

Roger’s creative repertoire also extends to leatherwork and functional design inspired by environmental connection. Whether on canvas or crafted by hand, his work celebrates the enduring spirit of the bush and the people who call it home.