Cherubs of Beelarong

I recently undertook a two months residency at Beelarong Urban Farm in Brisbane. I made lots of preliminary contour drawings of the botanical subjects there that were in flower or had interesting shapes, and these formed the basis of this painting, "Cherubs of Beelarong".

The central motif is the terracotta birdbath , and it is surrounded by a vanilla vine and its orchid like flowers, a purple cabbage , bromeliads, and nasturtiums. I have included a bug in the top left hand corner to signify the abundance of little critters that have made Beelarong their home. It was an absolute pleasure to bear witness to the myriad of small botanical changes that occurred during the time of my residency.

The painting has been varnished and is ready to hang. I have put my initials on the front of the work with my full signature on the back.

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I am an oil painter and over the years I have experimented with that medium using various styles and supports, techniques and tools. However, the subject matter is always the one common denominator. ...the subject is always based in nature, and invariably represents my response to something I have just seen in the landscape, or a small collected specimen that I have brought back to the studio.
My studio work process begins with an initial and very roughly painted sketch on the canvas, which is then followed by a loose application of paint over the entire picture plane in order to give an idea of composition and colour balance. These first stages are quickly executed, but with the slow drying nature of oils, the ensuing layers, and the final finished work can be days or weeks later.
The wonderful thing about art and any creative endeavour is that there is no arrival point. It is a journey of looking, learning, and discovery.

My formal education: Diploma of Visual Arts (SBIT)
Master of Contemporary Art (UTAS)