I have booked a show

Today is a big day for me. I have booked my first solo show! It will be in Melbourne at the end of February. I have a number of large works to fill the gallery, but I need to do smaller ones as well. To celebrate, I'm re-posting this painting, as it is inspired by Melbourne: a city of lane ways and small cafés.

It's not rocket science, this change thing

>Oil on Canvas

121 cm x 102 cm

Here is my latest work in the Basilica series.

I am continuing on a narrative as follows:

The imposing, patriarchal architecture (the church) has been emasculated by flooding the chapels with high tide...

The new guard are young trainee lifesavers, well equipped for and welcoming of the uprising water world. They challenge the authority of the church and introduce issues relating to gender and climate disasters.

Two Eric Fischls = one rough layout for my next work... titled "Is it me?"

This is my display of recent works... ready for assessment.

I have been doing the Advanced Diploma at the Sydney Gallery School. I have not finished, but sadly, this will be the end of school for me. Its time I pushed off into the big world of art, and find out whether I will sink or swim on my own. One is very protected as a student... there is structure, support, advice. None of which will be around for me next year.
Yep... sad.

Each 'face' = 4 x 4 inch oil on canvas
These girls are from my cast of Nippers, used in the Argyle Surfers and St Peters Basilica paintings.

Dance Class, Interrupted

Degas' ballet dancers and their teacher are my inspiration for this painting. Removed from their expected environment of a stage, or room, they find themselves in a strange dark corridor, peopled with odd, foreboding figures. This painting is a new direction for me, facture-wise... it is sketchy and loose... thus depicting a process, rather than an arrival.
Oil on Canvas 2009
85cm x 85cm

I have a working title of 'Horses in the Basilica', but hopefully this will change soon. I am finding the title quite a creative challenge, as it can be continuing source of communication and mystery that adds to the work.
Oil on Canvas
90 x 75cm

Workers in the Basilica
Oil on Canvas
90cm x 75cm

I have now finished this painting, and settled on a title. The latter was harder!

"St Peters Basilica and New Art"
120cm x 94cm
Oil on Canvas

Argyle Surfers: 150cm x 90cm Oil on Canvas

"The Next Episode"
90cm x 90cm Oil on Canvas

Florence Blues... there are blues in this painting, but my warm late-night light does not allow them to shine. I'll re-post tomorrow when I can take a shot in sunlight.

This is a 'daily painting', and possibly a study for a larger work.

View to Charlotte Pass

Its winter and its snowing! I loved painting this commissioned work, knowing that I'll be skiing in a few weeks. These snow gums are amazing for their stripes of purple and green. They are unique to the snowy mountains in Oz. And are always in the way of a good run!!!

By way of the South 90cm x 90cm Oil on Canvas

Snow Gum: View to Charlotte

Oil on Canvas
900mm x 600mm

Here is my latest snow gum painting, finished a few days ago.
Commissioned.

I was attempting to create a feeling of depth with this tree, rather than showing just two dimensions. Not quite finished, needs a touch more warmth.

These trees are in Perisher, a snow resort in Australia. Its dumping there now, so I thought it would make a good post.

Today a sketch

I visited Venice on Jan 1... it was the coldest I have ever been. There was snow everywhere, and sleet was blowing in from the ocean. But still, a beautiful city. I can't wait to go back, maybe when its warmer.

I have started on a 'small works' project using these watercolour paintings. I painted them last winter while staying in a lodge in Perisher. (In the Australian ski fields.) So far I have used Bondcrete to glue them to canvas, and seal their surface. Then I'll paint over them with oils, and add found objects such as ski tickets, gum leaves and the like.

Expresso Lane

I have been working on this painting for most of the day. Its 6.45pm and I'll stop now. We are going out to dinner, and I'd better clean up. As usual, I'll be smelling of turps!

New Shoots from Old Growth

Soon it will be winter here, and I'll be painting the snow gums again. This is an oil painting that I completed a winter ago... and as I have not been near my paints for a few days, I thought I would take the time to post some earlier works. This is 4ft x 3ft. One of my favourite trees.

Shades of the City

150 cm x 90 cm, oil on canvas. They are views of The Rocks, Sydney, showing the 'Old Town'.

My paintings in a group show at Brunswick Street Galleries

Here I am at Brunswick Street Galleries in Melbourne. It is a group show, and there are five of my paintings in the show.

View

Arches in the Rocks Series

The Bride. 90 x120 cm Oil on canvas

Night Comes On. 90 x120 cm Oil on canvas

Uncertainty. 90 x120 cm Oil on canvas

Two more works in progress

Argyle Surfers

Portrait of "David in the Morning"