“Tacking Point Lighthouse”
Oil on ACP
14” x 11”
FOR SALE
I visit Mum and Dad in beautiful Port Macquarie as often as I can, and it’s always a great time.
Each time I get to know the area a little better and there is a lot to see.
Tacking Point was names by Matthew Flinders in 1802 and a lighthouse was built there in 1879 after more than 20 ships were wrecked in the area!
It is located about 8 kilometers south of Port Macquarie on a rocky headland.
It is the 13th oldest lighthouse in the country and is only 8 meters high due to the elevation of its location at Tacking Point.
It is made of rendered brick painted stark white which adds to its landmark quality. The lighthouse originally had a keepers cottage next to it and the foundations are still visible.
It is a popular spot for locals and visitors and winding road to it really invites you to go and visit the lighthouse.
I have added the looming storm to show the importance of the lighthouse to sea traffic and a couple of local Glossy Black Cockatoos getting ready to head for the hills.
“Resting Place”
Oil on ACP
18” x 24”
When it’s 47C ( 117F) in outback north west Qld, finding a bit of shade is a priority. I came across this old truck underneath a couple of Gidgee trees( Stinking Wattle, Acacia cambagei) about 40k from the mine I work at, on Pathungra Station.
Not an environment for the feint hearted the temperatures can go from near 50C in the summer to below zero in the winter.
As I pulled up a heap of Roo’s came bounding out in all directions, it’s amazing they survive and thrive out there and there’s buggerall to survive on!!
There’s probably a pretty cool story to the old truck, maybe dragged there to be fixed, unsuccessfully, and there it stayed!
The natural inhabitants seem to be able to outlast the man made visitors in this seemingly barren part of the country, birds, native animals,cattle, camels and reptiles thrive though and make it a place that can be worth experiencing.
Here’s the painting I did to try and capture this corner of the Aussie Outback.
“How much can a Koala bear”
Oil on ACP
600mm x 400mm
Since I was little I’ve had a soft spot for Koalas, there is a photo of myself and two of my brothers, all under 4 sitting side by side with a little stuffed Koala, we loved that bear and one of us had it with us till the fur wore off and the leather nose rubbed through!!
Aussies are so lucky to live in a country that has Koalas, and Roos, and emus and platypus.. to name a few.
This painting is my interpretation of a popular Koala image, I did a quick sketch of it on a transformer and posted it previously, this is the colored in version. The fauna and flora of our great land has taken a big hit recently and it is so sad, to think of these creatures in fear and pain.. and dying is heartbreaking, I painted this at work, with a fair bit of feeling,.
“The Drover, off to town in his favorite Red shirt”
Oil on canvas
900mm x 1000mm
Painting trees can be a challenge, but an enjoyable one, having lived in the outback, on the coast and in the tropics, and having seen the variety and types of trees it is staggering!!
The good thing about trees is that portraying them generally a subjective thing. You don’t have to paint every leaf and limb to represent them, you can be loose with form and colour, to a degree!
Most artists develop a style and technique for painting trees, to make them look and feel the best for their work. I find every time I paint a tree it sort of designates to me how to paint it, an ongoing learning experience.
In this painting I wanted to paint some Hans Heysen type trees, concentrating on the light and lost edges. Staying as loose as possible on the trees and giving old mate a red shirt to balance the overload of green!! It’s a big painting, almost 1 meter x 1 meter and looks great on the wall.
“Last Light”
Oil on ACP
700mm x 500mm
I’ve been doing a few commissions, and Madi commissioned me to do a painting she could give to her mum as a Birthday present.
She sent me an image and I did my interpretation of it.
I really enjoy painting sunsets and sunrises but they do have their challenges!!
The scene really reminded me of the many sunsets and sunrises I had encountered on the West coast of Queensland
when we lived in Weipa.
That’s the look I went for, while
I was painting it I thought a lot about Weipa and the Cape and it’s beauty, we saw so many great endings to days, that we started to take them for granted… you’d be out throwing a cast net on sunset and look up and catch the last rays of the day, pause a minute, watch the fireball descend into the sparkling sea, extinguishing the light and extraordinary colours as it went!!
Madi and her sister Brittany loved it, so that was great, and hopefully their Mum, who lives in Weipa does too.
“Johnstone River Sunset “
oil on linen, 16” x20”
I live near Innisfail, Far North Queensland, and at times the area can one of spectacular beauty. It had been unseasonably dry for this time, of year ,( till this week!!), which has produced some amazing sunsets due to the dust and smoke.
My wife and I went went with friends on a Snapping Tours Sunset cruise (see the odd crocodile)on the Johnstone river (highly recommended) the sunset was a highlight and this is a painting I did of the view coming back to Innisfail that evening.
I did very little drafting, just hooked in and tried to capture the colours and feeling of the sunset, big brush strokes and plenty of colour using my pics as a reference. The dot in the middle of the picture is Xmas lights on the water tower!
“ The Cassowary “
Oil on Canvas
40” x 30”
We see a lot of Cassowaries around here, was running through the rainforest with our dog Rangi a few weeks ago, was high up in the forest running on the access road to our neighbors house.
Rangi was trailing me, 30 meters or so behind when I heard something off in the bush, I turned around, Rangi was sniffing around the edges of the forest below me, when I saw the leaves and branches behind him move and a large, fully grown Cassowary burst out of the forest, meters behind my dog, then hot in its heels, two half meter high chicks high-tailing after it!!
They were across the dirt road in seconds, disappearing into the thick rainforest with barely a sound!!
I was wide eyed and looked down at Rangi, he was still happily sniffing away, oblivious to the actions that had taken place mere meters behind him.
When you look at a Cassowary, see their shape and colours, designed for the rainforest, wedge on the top of the head, long strong neck, raked body with tough black feathers, strong legs and feet to push through vines etc and bright colours on the back of the neck to remain visible to the following chicks or birds.
Did this painting not long after that adventure!!
“Tojo Country “
Oil on canvas
16” x 20”
Every night at the mine , in North Western QLD, I walk past the car park on the way from the gym, this night a storm was coming!!As an electrician I hoped I wasn’t on call!! This is the painting I did of it, it’s called “Tojo Country”
“Snake in a Skull”
Oil on ACP
Wanted to do some paintings inspired by tattoos, thought I’d start with the old Snake’n Skull!!
Was fun coming up with the composition and painting. Used a palette knife on the skull and stayed pretty loose!
Always liked the the old cactus, sometimes they look like their giving you the finger
“Aussie Rider”
Oil on ACP
510mm x 410mm
Growing up in the 70’s, in a small Aussie country town, as kids we would ride or drive anything we could get our hands and bums on, push bikes, step-through Honda’s(Postie bikes), Ag bikes, dirt bikes , tractors, cars, trucks and road bikes, we grew up learning to ride or drive anything!!
When we got our licenses some got into bikes, some cars and some both.
Easy Rider was a big movie back then and sometimes riding the country backroads on old Honda 100’s we would see ourselves as the boys in the movie, wind in our hair, cruising, having a ball.
I went the car route, but a lot of the boys went the bike road and are still rolling today.
I have always loved the choppers and the chrome, especially the Easy Rider bikes and have always wanted to do a painting of them.
Wanted to give it an Aussie flavour so I have painted a couple of my lifelong mates, Harley riders for life, Brian and Steven on the bikes, cruising past the big rock!!
“CLASSIC”
Oil on Canvas
16” x 20”
My friend Brett restores old Harley’s and Fuel bowsers, I’ve put 2 examples of his into a painting… this would be a cool bike to own… he won’t sell it though!!
Fair enough
“Bennelong Point” Oil on linen 16” x 20”
When in Sydney, Pancakes at the Rocks for breakfast, a walk from there around to the Opera House via Circular Quay, taking in the beautiful city and harbor views has been a favorite thing of mine for many years, I did it recently with my sons, brothers, nephews and friends... the Harbor is magnificent, I took a heap of pics that day, this is the image I made from one of them.
It’s called Bennelong Point, the sail boat I believe is ‘The Young Endeavor ‘,
I watched it leave its moorings at the Quay and I ran along the old stone walkway dodging people to get the shot I wanted, it was a magic day and I loved painting this work as the Opera House holds so much significance to me as it does for all Aussies!!
hope you like it, I loved painting it
“Hitting Darwin in the 80’s”
oil on linen 16” x 20”
This painting is a rework of a Peter Jarver image, he was one of Australia’s great photographers and his pics really captured Australia’s raw beauty and character , especially the far north!
This painting is a tribute to him and an image that really resonates with me as I had a Tojo the same model ( only mine was a LWB and a darker) I also had a 12 foot tinnie, and lived in Darwin in the 80’s.
The painting is called ‘Hitting Darwin in the 80’s”
“Near the Lighthouse, Port Macquarie”
Oil on panel
10” x 20”
To be able to sit with your dad, in a quiet and comfortable environment, and paint the hours away is a rare and special treat, and add to that having your mum bringing cups of tea and praise is like cream on the cake!!
I sat with dad, we both paint in oils, and worked on our paintings, he on a canvas board and myself painting on Aluminium Composite Panel prepped with an oil ground.
He uses turps to apply thin blocking in layers,and to wash his brushes, and refined linseed oil as the medium for the thicker oil layers.
I don’t use turps, minimal linseed oil as the medium, clean my brushes with paper towels and the paint on my palette! At the end I use soapy water to clean up!
Our colour palette is very similar, but how we mix and apply the paint is quite different, really interesting when it’s happening!
He has been painting for over 60 years and developed tried and true techniques, processes and a style that has seen him become a well known and accomplished artist.
My own process is usually the same but my techniques, application and interpretation are dynamic and evolving, mainly due to the influences of the internet and the access you can have to so many great artists from Australia and around the world.
As he says ”there’s a lot of ways to skin a sheep son” so in that short painting period, that little snapshot of time a lot of information passed between us, and not only about art!!
This is the painting I did in that session, it will remain special
“The Music Inn”
oil on linen
16 x 20”
This is a painting of the Music Inn on 169 West Fourth street which is an icon of New York!, est in 1958 it has gone through a number of changes but still remains an interesting place for lovers of music and the instruments that create it. I heard about it years ago and when a fellow artist Lew Brennan posted a photo by Mozz , when he was in New York. I asked if I could paint it, he was cool , so here is my effort to try and emulate this New York Street scene. It has a lot of elements that I really enjoy the challenge of trying to capture in paint!!
Cheers hope you like it
“Jim Jim Falls, Heaven on Earth “
Oil on canvas panel
Australia, a land of such varied landscapes, it is such a great challenge to mix the colours to try and capture them and do the scenes justice.
One of my favorite Australian photographers is Peter Jarver, sadly no longer with us, his images resonate so strongly with me. I have lived in the north of Australia for many years and I have yet to see any one capture the feel and atmosphere of the Tropics like he did.
I look at his photos and can almost feel the humidity, smell the lush rainforest, hear the sounds of the northern scrub!
I have always loved his image of Jim Jim Falls, he called the place ‘Heaven on Earth’
I haven’t previously had the skills to do an interpretation of this image, with the limited palette I use,but thought I’d give it a go.
Here’s my interpretation
“Evening, on the corner of Rue Raymond Losserand and Rue de Plaisance, Paris” oil on linen 16” x 20”
My son Liam was recently in Europe and sent me pics, some from Paris. This is the painting I created from one of those pics,
I really wanted to paint a
Paris scene as Paris during the 1800’s produced the artists and paintings that have, and still do heavily influence myself and the current artists I look to for inspiration and guidance.
The Impressionist’s, but more so the Realism movement led by Gustave Courbet and including Carolus Duran is a style and technique that I aspire to and try to emulate in my own way,
and all these guys were in Paris at the same time!! Amazing period !!
“Evening, on the corner of Rue “UBI BENE IBI PATRIA”
Oil on ACP
1100mm x 700mm
This is a bit of a story…
‘Ubi Bene Ibi Patria’, the Latin inscription on the front of the Monument that stands on the Fitzgerald Esplanade on bank of the Johnstone River , Innisfail.
Loosely interpreted to “ Where one is content, there is one’s homeland “
Like every thing about the statue standing at the junction of Innisfail it has so much meaning and thought behind it!
In 1959 the Queensland Government suggested communities commemorate the centenary of separation from NSW with a structure of permanent nature.
Around their regular Saturday morning beers a group of Italian locals headed by Dr Rigano came up with the idea of a statue to honor the pioneers of the Sugar Industry, an industry that was the heart and soul of the region.
Many photos of the sugar industry were gathered and sent to Sydney artist Mr Lamberto Yonna, who suggested the statue of a cane cutter as a symbol of the Sugar industry. He did many sketches and the final sketch, after it was approved was sent to Carrra in Italy, a city and province famous for its marble and sculptors.
Professor Renato Berratta, an instructor and a man famous across Italy and France, came up with the successful design and was delighted to sculpt it.
It cost 5 thousand pounds in 1959, so probably a quarter of a mill now!!
Shipped in 32 crates and assembled by a migrant artisan , Mr Pietro Bertolani, recommended personally by Prof Berretta, who had only been in Australia for 2 months! The monument is a work of art by any standard.
On the 4.3 meter monument sits a live size cane cutter, his physique anatomically perfect and showing the strength and toughness needed to cut cane, wearing a basic hat and a pair of shorts grabbing a stool of cane, and swinging his legendary cane knife!!
Around the level below are reliefs of cane cutters working in the fields. The fountain outlets are water bags, copies of the bags the cutters carried. Dolphins and sea creatures from the reef are on the bottom level.
There are cane knives, files and water bags on the fence. The fence depicts Badilla cane stalks, and the rails on the top are exact replicas of the rail gauge and profile used by the sugar mill trains in the area!!
The inscriptions on and around the monument pay tribute to the pioneers of the Sugar industry, in English and Italian, very unique!
A wonderful example of art and community, a pleasure to paint, and a challenge to paint a recognized and amazing piece of art and spirit!!
“Evening, on the corner of Rue “Early Morning Walk” oil on canvas 16” x 20”
Driving from home to the Central Coast a month ago with my bro Col I saw this old shack, with the cows being herded along, early morning in the winter, took a few pics and this is the image I painted, tried to capture the peaceful winter morning, hope you like it
“Harvey Creek NQ”
Oil on Linen
The North Queensland rainforest is something close to my heart and my family and I have lived in close proximity to it for many years. I have painted it a number of times trying to capture it as I see and feel it. Often it is portrayed on canvas as quite ethereal and romantic..while beautiful and scenic it can also be a harsh environment.
Trish and I took the dogs for a swim at Harvey Creek, between Babinda and Cairns, the dogs and I walked it for a few K’s and I took some pics, this is an image I created from that morning hoping to capture the feel of the rainforest that morning
“Early Morning Crossing “
“16 x 20”
Oil on canvas
This is a painting of a scene just up the road from our place, looking North to Cairns with the Basalisk Range in the background.
When the rain stops for a while and there are no clouds, on a winters day in the tropics the sky seems to go on forever and the days are beautiful, you don’t want the days to end!
Often on my morning run or a drive in the Ute with the dogs, we encounter some of the locals and I have put a couple in this painting.
The Cassowaries are cool and my dogs give them a wide berth, their not real sure what they are
“Where we walk the dogs” Oil on canvas
16” x 20”
This is a painting of Cowley Beach North Queensland, and it’s boat ramp...and there is a boat about to go into the water!
This pretty and peaceful spot is ten minutes from our home, when we can, and the weather isn’t an issue, we take our dogs for a run there.
It’s usually this crowded!!, so an ideal spot for a couple of excited dogs to run wild!( I put a couple of their prints in sand in the foreground)
I tried to capture the feeling of a North Queensland beach and its amazing raw beauty...on a nice day its hard to beat
“Wet Season Storm over Ninds Creek NQ”
Oil on canvas, 16” x 20”
Over many years living across Northern Australia I have seen and been in many wet season/ silly season/buildup storms.
It is a time of year in the Tropics when the heat and humidity become almost unbearable, each day it builds and threatens to rain, but slides away. Then as if it’s all to much, the air gets thick with moisture, the clouds darken the landscape, all seems to go deathly still, and then. .everything lightens up, the sky, the trees, the water take on a luminescent hue, and then.. crack the bolt, followed immediately by the thunderclap, and then the air goes cold and down comes the torrential rain!! it’s truly a show of nature’s power and beauty!!
This is my attempt to capture a scene I have witnessed...been the one tucked up under the mangroves sitting it out
“Heading Home”
Oil on ACP
300mm x 400mm
I knew,worked and partied with a few indigenous stockmen when I was in Weipa, they were great guys, born and bred on the Cape.
They often talked fondly about their time as wringers and after a few beers would get quite animated telling their stories, pretty cool.
I used to nod and laugh and enjoy the yarns, but it never really sunk in till the Rodeo came to town, then they put on a show!!
When I saw them done up in their clobber, excited and focused it was like they were different people, they had a go at every type of event, it was amazing to see.. they hooked right in..were so good, fully in the zone and in command!! And had a ball!!
In this little painting I tried to capture a bit of the feel of an Aussie stockman.I used a setting very similar to the country around the mine I work at in Northwest Queensland, wanted to see if the idea would look ok for a bigger painting..
“The Shark “
Oil on canvas “12 x 16”
This painting is a composition that was inspired by two people, a old friend of mine John Mills from the Torres Strait, and Frank Frazetta the Fantasy painter master!
John was a Pearl diver and Pearling Lugger Captain during the 1960’s and 70’s, while we were working in Weipa he told me many stories of his Pearling days, truly amazing.. great history of a wonderfully unique part of our country. I asked him if he ever found lost treasure, he said “ No...but I saw a lot of sharks Bulla!!”
From that time I have wanted to do a painting of Suit Divers..and using Frank Frazetta as an influence for the narrative I came up with this composition, love painting this type of stuff and hope to do more!!
“Mount Sonder and a couple of Wedgies”
Oil on ACP
600mm x 450mm
As a boy I can remember seeing paintings done by Albert Namatjira, and indigenous water colour artist of amazing skills. His paintings of the MacDonnell Ranges, and it’s surrounds in Central Australia were full of rich colour and gave a glimpse of the wide spaces and tranquility of the red center.
He was a prolific painter and a mentor to many indigenous artist of the time, starting his own school of artists in the outback, The Hermannsburg school.
This is my painting of Mount Sonder, a subject often portrayed in Namatjira’s work, as it was close to his home.
“ A Few Beers in Amsterdam “ Oil on linen, 16” x 20”
Recently my son Liam was in Europe catching up with friends, he took some nice photos and I have composed a few paintings from them.
The play of light and the effect on the hues seems different to that in OZ
He was heading out for a beer and took this shot, I saw it and thought, nice spot for a beer!
So I painted it...was a bit tougher than I thought and I had to go down a few more brush sizes and take longer then usual, to get the depth, and show all the various components.
I wanted to capture the activity along the canal, the shade on the buildings from the trees and of course the canal and its little boats…and the groovy beer garden!!
Hope you like it
“Way Out West, Rig 29”
Oil on ACP
400mm x 500mm
Sometimes a song can resonate with you, it may not change your life but it may influence your thinking in some direction!
I was recently in Toowoomba with my son Liam and he took me to the head office of Easternwell, a drilling and camp management company working in the Oil and Gas sector.
Lining the walls of their rather impressive headquarters were photos from the field of their people, drill rigs and camps from all over Australia, many of these locations very remote.
The images were mainly supplied by the employees of Easternwell and were fantastic.
Depicting parts of Australia rarely seen and in its rawest beauty, drill rigs with sunrises, sunsets, fires, deserts, and various bush.
The drill rigs reminded me of a song I really liked when I was a boy, called “Way out west” by an Aussie band the Dingoes, the song gave me an incredible sense and desire to go and work somewhere completely different and wild, not nine to five, remote and untamed, a place to prove yourself!! I never forgot it and a few years later I headed North( and slightly west) to seek my fortune, my ‘way out west’
I got Liam to send me some of the images so I could do a painting, I really like the contrast of the abstraction of the bush, sky and nature offset against the engineered and sleek colours and lines of the drill rigs.
The rigs and camps are like a little island on the inland sea!
To the people who work these rigs and camps, I get it, it’s not just money, (big help though) its a life, it gets in your blood!!
To everyone else, hope you like it, it’s a big beautiful country with a lot going on