"Under The Breaking Waves: Body Surfing Sorrento Back Beach - Gold Series " Abstract Expressionist Modern Water Summer Theme Ready To Hang Extra Large 152 x 76 x 3 cm

THE STORY BEHIND THE ART

"When I was a kid, I used to body surf at the back beach of Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula. You might be able to relate to this amazingly exhilarating experience. You get out as far as you dare. Then you watch for the best wave: a big one, that hopefully isn't too big that it will "dump" you when it breaks against the shore. Most of the time, you get it just right and you can ride that beautiful thing all the way to the sand.
Once in a while, though, you accidentally catch a "double", or the dreaded "triple"; waves that have joined together further out and come in with a heap of water behind them that you can't see. Until it dumps you. It picks up your body and slams it into the sand below and holds you there until its force passes over you and onto the shore.
Most of the time, "doubles" just push you down and flip your body over, and that's almost fun. You get up and gasp for air and look at your brother or sister and say: "Whoa! Double!" You fake a grin, but you feel relieved it's over.
Then you get a "triple". It happens to every body surfer at some point. A huge bugger that fools you into thinking it's just a "biggy" until it gets close to you. Suddenly the water you're standing in goes down a few feet as this giant thing sucks the water up in front of it, because that's how these things roll. By the time you realise it's a "triple", you have just enough time to either dive under it, or brave riding it.
I've only braved riding one once. This is a painted memory of that moment when the "triple" taught me a lesson I'll never forget.
I thought I was going to die for the longest seconds of my life. I looked up, almost out of breath, watching the churning beast that had somersaulted me and pinned me to the bottom as it passed over. I could see the sheer massiveness of it. Feel its unyielding power. The view of that moment is this painting: sand and water churning every which way; the light of the summer sun spangling all about me as it urged me to surface; the wispy clouds and blue, blue sky just visible above the wave crest. I can still recall the way my lungs burned and my mouth clenched shut against the salty brine that tried to fill my mouth.
Then it was over, as the water released its grip and my body floated upwards. I can still see in my mind the look on my brother's face when my head finally broke the surface. He shook his head and laughed at me. But I could see he was relieved. He'd done the smart thing and dived under it, but it had flipped the hell out of him too. We talked about it all the way home in the car.
It was one of the best days of my life. I guess you just had to be there. "

TECHNICAL DETAILS

This painting is ready to hang straight out of the box and protected from dust and UV damage with clear coats of varnish.
Painted using the best quality acrylics on high grade stretched canvas, using fingers and hand strokes and layers of thin emulsion. This painting has texture and depth.
Free shipping and returns.
Boxed carefully by Pack and Send to ensure you receive this artwork in perfect condition.

Follow

Thank you for supporting my work.
God bless 🙏

AWARDS

First Prize Winner -Royal Melbourne Show 2024

Honourable Mention - Art to Art Gallery Unearthed Art Prize 2024

Honourable Mention - Bluethumb Online Gallery 2025, 2024, 2022

Finalist - Unearthed Art Prize, Art to Art Gallery, 2024

Finalist - Bendigo Art Show 2025, 2024

Finalist - Frankston Art Show 2023

EXHIBITIONS

Solo - "Volupte" at Red Rock Gallery, Horsham 2022

2025: Bendigo Art Show, Mansfield Art Show, Donald Art Show

Royal Melbourne Show 2024

Group - Bendigo Art Show 2024

Group - Unearthed Art Prize Finalist Exhibition 2024

Group - Pomonal Art Show 2023

Group - Donald Art Show 2023

Group - Horsham Art Fair

Education
RMIT University - Undergraduate degree
Deacon University - Post graduate study
Ridley College - Theological Studies