ARTIST STATEMENT
The surface of the painting is my main concern, along with the structure of the drawing. I try to suggest the qualities of nature in my lines and colours. The landscapes of the central and western deserts are currently my primary inspiration. I am also inspired by road trips to places elsewhere. I sometimes take a point of perspective that could be described as a sweeping bird’s eye view. I use the patterns of nature and a desert palette to recreate fragments of memory. I have memories that seem to slowly become part of the present in my work. The openness of nature is what most inspires me.
ARTIST STATEMENT
In my paintings I attempt to arrive at a point where a number of layers of gestural marks, shapes and colours interweave to culminate in a defined space. The rhythm and harmony of the natural landscape of my surrounds is the inspiration. Though not specific to particular sites in the landscape, at times I tend to use circular shapes, which evoke the small hill of boulders visible from my studio window. My paintings are a distillation process of a series of overlaid marks and shapes. In the 1990s I was more interested in a depiction of the landscape surrounds, whilst now the paintings are more non-representational (abstract) although the basic inspiration remains the central desert landscape, where I live. Most of my influences remain to be from the modernist era: Picasso, Klee, Matisse, Cobra, and abstract expressionism. From Australia I admire the work of Ian Fairweather and Tony Tuckson. More recently, the diverse range of paintings emanating from the Aboriginal communities around Australia is a huge inspiration.
Studio Five is a Alice Springs based initiative, dedicated to exhibiting high-quality local art. Showcasing a broad array of contemporary work from both established and emerging artists, the Studio Five art space presents a collection of mixed media, featuring paintings, prints, ceramics, found object sculptures, and metalwork. Holding longstanding, personal and professional relationships with the artists, Studio Five’s curator, Liesl Rockchild, provides unique insight into the works on display, creating an informative and engaging environment for all. Through an ethical and open-minded approach to art, combined with a commitment to seeking out exemplary work, the Studio Five art space fosters a creative climate that works to benefit artists and art collectors alike.