Lagoon Depths.

Challenging the imagination and celebrating the wonders of our universe.
Besides painting, I don’t know how else to express my immense awe and, in a way, bafflement when trying to comprehend the universe. The sheer scale things! And to think we have constructed machines to explore the solar system and are still drifting far beyond, even now.

The green nebula in the background is the beautiful Lagoon Nebula. It is located close to the centre of our Milky Way galaxy. Around 1654 an Italian astronomer by the name of Giovanni Hodierna was the first to recognize that the Lagoon Nebula wasn’t a star or comet, and he is credited for discovering it. The nebula is also known as M8 for short or NGC 6523.

The Lagoon Nebula is so named because of the dark band that separates it in two. The darkness looks like a lagoon surrounded by an island of light. There is a denser part of the nebula within the Lagoon that’s called the Hourglass.

The Lagoon Nebula is visible on very dark, clear nights in the Sagittarius constellation. It’s the densest part of the Milky Way because you’re looking towards the center of the galaxy. This area of the sky is very bright and full of nebulae, star clusters, and other deep space objects.

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I am blessed with being able to work full-time as a professional artist in my studio at GIGS Artists' Studios, Gateway Village, Wodonga. Although I have exhibited regularly I am always exploring new avenues including murals, some of which I've completed locally and abroad.

Two of my great passions in life are the environment and painting. Through painting I question our role in relation with nature as I seek to spread the awareness that the natural world is threatened both directly by human abuse and indirectly by overpopulation. It is obvious that we – modern society – have become increasingly detached from nature and in order to secure a place for future generations (all species alike) it is vital that we tune ourselves in with the environment and regain greater awareness of our planet and thus take better responsibility of it.

I have the belief that artists and art-making has the potential to point out the importance of environmental integrity – through speaking to emotion and passion for nature. Admiration for nature is intrinsic for all of us, yet it is something we deny or neglect through day-to-day living. As artists, we have the capability to connect with society and direct public attention. My work is intended to inspire change that may help sustain a healthy planet.