"We spend much of our lives seeing without observing" - Andy Warhol
I make art to capture the exquisite beauty I observe in our natural world, sharing the glorious minutiae in the everyday that is often obscured and overlooked. If it makes my heart sing then I'll paint it.
I paint in a style of Realism, specifically Nature Realism. My work is detailed and I often have a muted or plain background so that there is no distraction from the unique characteristics of the subject. My mission is to let the viewer feel the beauty that I see.
I mainly paint with oils because I like the long open time for blending - especially on larger canvases. I have recently started using acrylics on small canvases when creating a triptych.The quicker drying time lends itself to these pieces.
My lifelong love of animals shows in my my subject matter - an array of of animals each with their unique personality captured in my work. My pieces include animals from our unique wildlife in Australia - birds, bees, and anything that catches my eye and stirs my soul. Researching my subject is part of the fun of creating paintings. A stroll through the bush, park or garden always makes me stop in wonder as I watch the bees at work pollinating, or birds busying themselves in the branches.