Artist Statement
Concentrating on the Australian landscape my paintings reflect a personal view and the continued possibilities offered to me by the surrounding area of the NSW South Coast and recently, more remote areas of Australia.
Inspiration for me comes from the natural environment with its fragility and transience, the patterns and colours of nature constantly intrigue me.
Taking time to absorb the "feel" of the landscape I then prefer to work intuitively back in the studio. When I'm painting I'm looking to be lost in the moment - I'm not thinking about the finished work or too concerned with colour placement, composition etc, I depend on my intuition during this process. Working with oil on board allows layers to be built and surfaces to be etched back into.
Mostly my paintings do start off wanting to be realistic – then they become suspended between an imagined place and the landscapes I have visited. Almost like recording nature in my own language – weather patterns and how they make their mark on the environment, tidal marks, the seductive bend of a gum tree, shadows..... the little things.
"After I finish a body of work I enjoy reflecting on what has influenced me. "“I think now they’re just that combination of the Australian landscape – little snippets of what I see and where I’ve been.
