Watching

Another one in my series of Australiana wildlife. I feed 6 kookaburras every day. The families live in the gums around my home. I love their call. Hope you like.
Original for sale: also available in A3 Linen ripple prints.

Elephant Walk

A dear friend of mine took this photo on a visit to the Western Plains Wildlife Park at Dubbo, NSW, Australia. I have really enjoyed painting him and will give him the finishing touches over the next few days. Pastel Original available FOR SALE 24cm x 35cm.

I also have Limited Edition Linen/Ripple, Canvas Prints and Greeting Cards of most of my Original works for sale.

Horse mirage1

First stage of another painting from the outback. We travelled for 350k's without seeing another car and during that time we came across a herd of horses that were walking towards a mirage. It reminded me of the Native American painting of the Vanishing Breed, these horses out in the middle of nowhere, no feed on the ground, terrain like a Marscape, the harshness and yet the beauty, heading into the haze...vanishing. This part of the trip really touched my heart. Lots of work to go on this painting, have not put the horses in yet. Will post next stage with the original photo.

Moonlight over Menindee

I love dead trees in water scapes. I had just finished taking heaps of photos of a sunset to the west turned to the east and there it was, the full moon rising over the lake...so soft, it took my breath away, the calming beauty of it is unforgettable. Have attached the original photo, aren't the colours just glorious?

Nearly finished this commission, just a bit of tidying up around the edges, and the final once over. I love seeing horses do this, a look of total enjoyment comes over the eyes, unspoken communicaton. Hope you like seeing the stages of development.

Layla Day 3

Here is yesterday's work on Layla. Have spent all day today working on her , will take a photo in the morning with better light so that I can post. Made a few corrections today on her eyes, shape, highlight colour, etc. She is now finished, she feels alive to me now. Don't you find it amazing how by just adding a different colour sometimes the whole perspective changes...in this photo Layla looks a little saggy around the chest and front legs but I know with more depth and light she will get dimension. Don't plan to do too much with the background, will just add waves of lighter green to make her pop. Thanks for looking, comments greatly appreciated.

Thought I would share with you a commission I am working on at the moment. The owner who is interstate has sent me some great photos to go by, plenty of angle with good light. This is the first time I have posted a 'work in progress' on my blog, quite a different experience, thought I would push the boundaries a little for a change. Will post next stage tomorrow etc until complete. I love getting the ground work done and then comes the building process until it comes to life. Her name is Layla, the size is 700cm x 480cm. Thanks for checking her out.

Together 4 Ever

This is the pastel painting that I use as my logo on my business cards with the caption above their heads 'the eyes are the window to the soul'. I could almost feel the hair on their coats as the painting was coming to completion, they came to life! Lot's of long hours into the night and seeing the sun come up went into this one. I love these guys! You know when some paintings get you in the zone (that's what I call it) and you find it so hard to move away from it, the painting takes over, I just love that feeling....anyone else out there knows what I mean or am I a bit weird...love to hear your thoughts. Available in Ltd Edition Canvas Print, A3 Linen/Ripple Block Mounted prints and Greeting Cards.

Recent Stall Holders event

Last Sunday night I had my first stall at a local Wine and food night held at a local Restaurant by the ocean. The purpose behind the night was for Students at a local college to demonstrate their newly learned skills in the hospitality areana. To add atmosphere to the nights event, local artists, potters, craft art etc were asked to hold a stall so that people enjoying the wine tasting and food tasting could stroll around and enjoy. Space was very limited but overall the night was a success for all. It was my first 'stepping out' I guess you could say, which I saw as a good opportunity to network, hand out lots of business cards, chat to the public etc. I have recently started putting my originals as Ltd Edition Canvas Prints, Gift Cards, A4 Laminated Prints and A3 Linen Prints, so this was also a good exercise for public response. I sold the Canvas Print (on the back wall with my other canvas prints) of my Original Tiger (in the foreground). Painting is one thing but having to sell your own work is another. I love to talk to people, that's easy but, the self promotion part is another....Just thought I would share with you all....any comments would be greatly appreciated...

Dingo

This is one of my commissioned work. The customer loves Dingo's and took a photo of one at a zoo and asked me to paint him. He didn't want any background, just the statement of the Dingo. I did him on Earth Red background to represent the Australian outback. Loved doing his tongue, that's when he came alive to me, you could almost hear him panting. Hope you like him too?

Shaman's Moondance

My Shaman is coming to the end of his time here in this world, he is now 35 years old and sadly doesn't look like this anymore. He is loosing his sight and hearing and lives for his twice daily warm feeds of bran, pellets, molasses, 3 mixes of chaff and extra bits of love thrown in. I see him some afternoons just gazing out over the valley and imagine him remembering his wonderful life and hopefully the times we shared and dreaming of where his next journey will take him. I often see horses in the clouds, dancing and running free, I know my Shaman sees them too and will one day join them.

I'm watching

This was an absolute delight to paint, it seemed to come about real fast. I got totally lost in him. Sometimes when I paint, depending on the animal I either leave the eyes until last because of the distraction they cause me or I paint them early on.  With this wonderful animal I put the eyes in quiet early on and it was as if he came alive even before he was completed. His eyes are indeed the 'Window to the Soul'. SOLD

A Mother's Love

This is a one of my commissions. The owner phoned me when the foal was born and I went round the next day, the foal not even 24 hours old to meet her, sit in wonderment of the miracle of birth and take photos for my painting.  What an honour!

 I love the way  it feels like the mare is cuddling her foal and the foal is hiding behind her mum for protection.  The mare's name is Stevie and the foal is Kunarma. To me it just speaks volumes of a mothers love  for her baby regardless be it human or animal. SOLD

Merry go Round

I love this painting. My brother found the original photograph at the dump. I have tried to find out where, when and who, but, there are no markings whatsoever to give any clues to the photograph's origins. In the black and white photograph the man in blue is just standing there so I gave him the task of painting the carvings as they made their way down the 'production line'. I love the nostalga of the photograph. When I was young I loved Merry go Rounds', maybe that started my love for horses later on, but, I never stopped to think about how they were made, who made them and where they were made, they were just 'Merry go Rounds' and they were fun.  Hope you enjoy and take a trip down your own memory lane!

Framed size: 94cm x 77cm  FOR SALE

Backyard Sunset

I was so lucky to view this beautiful sunset from my back yard last summer. Try as we may to capture the beauty and wonder of  nature in a painting, she is the mistress of working with a palette of colours, we are her humble students. It takes your breath away! FOR SALE

Dolphin Family

I have had the good fortune of swimming with Dolphins on numerous occasions. They are so silky smooth to touch, very inquistive but they are in control of the boundaries, that smile gets you every time.

Framed size: 82cm x 66cm. FOR SALE

Shaman

This is my 'Shaman' he has been my friend for the last 14 years. As in the painting Shaman has a dark side which only comes out when he chooses. He is a very old soul who commands your respect and absolute devotion. 

Wedgetail Eagle

I loved painting his powerful eye and enormous tallons, when the light came into the painting he came alive. 

Original size: 70cm x 40cm, Framed size: 82cm x 66cm FOR SALE