New Oil Paintings

Large Sky  Oil on Canvas  122x122cm  2009

Sky I  Oil on Canvas  60x60cm  2009

Sky II  Oil on Canvas  60x60cm  2009

Sky III  Oil on Canvas  60x60cm  2009

Sky IV  Oil on Canvas  30x30cm  2009

Art Sale - Studio Clearance Sale

Just a short entry to let you all know that I am holding a studio sale on Saturday the 11th of July between 1-4pm. The work will be exhibited at our house in the beautiful Moorabool Valley, Maude, Victoria and everyone is welcome. The sale will include studies, experiments and finished work - paintings, drawings, sculpture and mixed media. Please contact me via email if you would like our address.

Corio Bay With Marker

My final 'hammer n' nail' painting. Great fun putting these four works together they really helped to free me up but now its time to move on.

Corio Bay with Marker  Acrylic and black japan on masonite and card  66x90cm  2009

Buoys Marking

I am not sure about where my work is taking me but I am really engaged with it and enjoying myself. My head is also swimming with new directions and concepts - really good feeling to have - just need more time in the studio.

Buoys Marking  Acrylic, black Japan, brass nails, card & timber  60x60cm  2009

Framed 2D/3D Constructions

These two works combine my 2D and 3D interests. They are both framed within hardwood frames. They have a retro 70's feel and have given me a heap of thoughts about further work. I really got into putting them together.

Marker in Bay  Acrylic on Timber & Masonite  46x50cm  2009

Red Marker  Acrylic on Timber & Masonite  35x35cm  2009

New Painting

The curtain parted and the Southern Ocean became a stage.

Curtain Parted  Acrylic on Canvas  122x61cm  2009

Corio Bay - Low Relief Constructions

These small wall mounted sculptures are influenced by Corio Bay in Geelong. They suggest sails, hulls of ships, markers and horizon lines. Corio Bay is an absolute gem an awesome body of water that has given me so much over my life.

Installation of 4 works

Black Marker  Acrylic on Timber  20x15cm  2009

Green Hull  Acrylic on Timber  20x15cm  2009

The Bay  Acrylic on Timber  20x15cm  2009

Sail  Acrylic on Timber  20x15cm  2009

THREE - Contemporary Art in a Sacred Space

Three is a group exhibition soon to be opened at Barrabool Hills Baptist Church, Geelong http://www.barraboolhills.com.au/. Three is an exhibition of painting and prints by Adam Lee http://www.adamlee.com.au/, Jeremy Van Der Noord and myself. It explores the validity and possibilities of contemporary visual arts within a modern Australian church context. The show will run from the 13th March until the 31st March, 2009. Below is one of my new paintings entered into the show.






Absence of Something Really Missed
Acrylic on Canvas
121x153cm
2009
SOLD

Some Other Paintings From 2008

These paintings were completed in early 2008. 

How do you paint intensity, drama, weight, history and moodiness? These are the kind of things I feel when I ponder the landscape and that which dwells in and beyond.

Veil  Acrylic on Canvas  61x122cm  2008  SOLD

Sky Falling  Acrylic on Canvas  91x122cm  2008  SOLD

Through  Acrylic on Canvas  61x122cm  2009  SOLD

Brougham Art School Staff Exhibition 2009

In 2008 I began teaching drawing at Brougham Art School in Geelong. This is a fantastic art school that delivers Diploma, Certificate and short courses in many subject areas. Visit www.broughamart.vic.edu.au if you are interested in more information. Today I helped to hang the 2009 staff exhibition. Below are a couple of images of the paintings included in the show. I have four paintings in the exhibition. The opening is on the 21 February 4-6pm at Cavalier Gallery, Level 1, 73 Malop St, Geelong. The show will run from the 17th February to the 19 March.

Headland Yearning at the Sea  Acrylic & Black Japan on Canvas  91x91cm  2009  $740.00 AUD

Beneath Surface  Acrylic & Oil on Canvas  61x122cm  2009  $480.00 AUD

The Sea

These are examples of the type of painting that I am really interested in exploring and developing further. Particularly 'Breathe in Me' which has the subtlety of form that I really desire. These paintings are based on impressions of the ocean and in particular the vastness of the horizon and the promise of more depth to come.





Breathe in Me Acrylic on Canvas 120x120cm 2009 SOLD




Just Is Acrylic on Canvas 61x122cm 2009 SOLD

Small Paintings 'Hedge Series'

Working to a very small format is something that I have done a lot of over the years. I really appreciate the intensity that a small work is capable of. The paintings shown below only measure 7 x 12 cm's but the actual frames are also hand built. The paintings float deeply inside their box frames.

Hedge I Acrylic on Timber Panel 30 x 30cm  (including frame)  2008  SOLD

Hedge II Acrylic on Timber Panel 30 x 30cm (including frame)  2008  SOLD

Hedge III Acrylic on Timber Panel 30 x 30cm (including frame)  2008  SOLD

Signs & Symbols

The following group of sculpture was shown at the Wintergarden Gallery, Geelong in 2008 as part of a solo exhibition. They draw inspiration from nautical signs and markers. They give direction or instruction but only if you are able to 'read' their visual language which in this case is fictional and non functional. I enjoyed making these due to their simplicity and because they invoked in me my affinity for our Victorian ocean, bays and waterways.

Red Green Marker Acrylic on Timber 20x20(w) x 70(h)cm  2008  SOLD

Marker Acrylic on Timber 15x40(w) x 120(h)cm  2008  SOLD

Black Marker Acrylic on Timber 15x30(w) x 70(h)cm  2008  SOLD

X Mark Acrylic on Timber 15x50(w) x 120(h)cm  2008  $280.00 AUD

Public Sculpture Commission - City of Greater Geelong

Connecting identities is a three year arts project currently underway in the City of Greater Geelong. It aims to create links between the people and places of Geelong, expressing what is important to them. It consists of three main projects - Memory Bank (connecting to our memories of Geelong), Mouth To Mountain (connecting to our land) and M2M (connecting to our songline). Please visit www.geelongaustralia.com.au/connectingidentities for more information and images.

The City of Greater Geelong is divided into twelve Wards. My involvement is to construct a sculpture that 'represents' the Ward of  Kardinia which is mostly the suburb of Belmont and sections of Highton and Grovedale. Another eleven artists are involved each making a sculpture for the other Wards.

How does a sculptural work encompass the depth of history, social complexities and physical environment of an entire suburb? Quite a challenge!

I have met with a representational group of residents from the Ward and from this developed a broader grasp of the sentiment and passion locals have for their home. The idea of Kardinia Ward being home was my strongest impression from the group. I grew up in the Ward and my parents, other family and friends live there and I am also teaching part time at Belmont High School. My own personal attachment to the Ward was also aroused and I am very enthusiastic about this project.

The sculpture needs to be somewhat portable, around one metre in height and has to house a torpedo shaped bottle of water. It will be used in the Mouth To Mountain 24hr event and then exhibited at City Hall and later within the Kardinia Ward.

My working drawings need to be completed by late February 2009 and presented to the working group. They will also be on public display sometime in March. As I begin to make some headway into the project I will post them up on the blog.

Below are some images of the sculpture during its construction. The sculpture is structurally complete but needs painting and detailing.

These are images of the completed sculpture taken in my studio. I will post up some images of the sculpture within the context of the Mouth to Mountain event soon.

'Tempio' Sculptures

The Italian art movement Arte Povera really intrigues me. Quite literally it means 'poor art' or maybe the idea of using 'poor'/'non art' media. Artists of the movement intentionally used everyday simple found objects, materials and the environment reconfiguring and manipulating these to add meaning, content and purpose.


These simple sculptures are made from cheap and discarded timber (packaging radiata pine and cypress pine off cuts). They are representations of the human body and the sense in which the physical human body houses something even more profound within its walls.


They expose the thought that even though our bodies decay and will come to an end our spirit and soul endure forever. The external facades also hide that which dwells within. The use of gold and copper in contrast to the iron ore paint also hint at the precious and the decaying.


Tempio I and II are currently on exhibition at Linden Gallery in St Kilda, Melbourne as part of the annual Linden Postcard Show Exhibition http:www.lindenarts.org/






 

Tempio I Acrylic on Timber 15 x 15(w) x 30(h)cm 2008 



Tempio IV Acrylic on Timber 15 x 15(w) x 35(h)cm 2008 



Tempio II Acrylic on Timber 15 x 18(w) x 30(h)cm 2008 

Drawings

The following group of drawings were completed in late 2008. My father is Italian and this series of drawings reinforced my link and longing for Italy and my heritage. It is also my first foray into including text into my artwork. Each drawing offers glimpses of removed gardens and courtyards. Some provide no obvious means of entry or make entry difficult. I think this alludes to my sense of separation  from where I would ideally like to be, not so much a physical environment but rather a place of relief and rest for my being. They speak also of the awkward distance that separates Australia and Europe.

Entrata Pastel on Paper 40x57cm  2008  $340.00 AUD

Up Pastel on Paper 37x57cm  2008  $340.00 AUD

Va Dentro Pastel on Paper 30x38cm  2008  $280.00 AUD

Viva Pastel on Paper 20x38cm  2008  $220.00 AUD

Via Stretto Pastel on Paper 30x38cm  2008  $280.00 AUD

2008 Toorak Village Festival of Sculpture

Monument I & II  Acrylic on Timber 2008  SOLD

Monument I & II  Acrylic on Timber 2008  SOLD

Monument II  Acrylic on Timber 2008  SOLD

Monument IV & III  Acrylic on Timber 2008  SOLD

I have been tentatively getting back into my sculpture over the last year. I actually majored in sculpture at university and am really excited about making moves back in this direction.

In 2008 I was accepted into the 2008 Toorak Village Festival of Sculpture http://www.tooraksculpture.com.au/ which was a very rewarding experience. I entered these small works in the show.

These sculptures were exploring the idea of monuments to the past. They encased or supported monuments to the last of the trees and other organic forms. I suppose an environmental concern underlies each one of them but I was also interested in them working aesthetically with a stark beauty or intrigue of their own.

Geelong Regional Artists Exhibition 2008

In 2008 I was selected for the tenth Geelong Regional Artists exhibition with five other local regional artists. The exhibition is fostered by the Gordon Foundation and run through the Gordon Gallery at The Gordon TAFE, Geelong. It is designed to encourage, assist and expose Geelong regional artists to the Geelong community.

It was a strong exhibition in a quality venue and was a great opportunity. Below are some examples of the paintings that I exhibited in the show.

Storm Cloud Acrylic on Canvas 60x82cm 2008  SOLD

Rain Acrylic on Canvas 76x92cm 2008  SOLD

Coming Down Acrylic on Canvas 92x124cm 2008  $680.00 AUD

Above Acrylic on Canvas 92x124cm 2008  $740.00 AUD