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.