One of the questions I am often asked is "How does your work change?" This is interesting to address, because I admit that often I am so immersed in my work that I don't notice the subtle shifts that happen over time.
The kind of shifts I am referring to are changes in the predominate palette, the way I apply the paint and construct a composition. When you look at the gallery of images on my website, spanning the last ten years, you will notice that my earlier paintings were more 'empty' - drawing you in with a void-like space that was often indeterminate. The colours were also less naturalistic and the paint was applied in thinner washes and glazes. (See 'In the Wind IV')
The compositional devices I use now create a complex interplay of positive and negative space, with ambiguity still being present within a more structured whole. My mark-making and paint application has evolved too. I now use a combination of transparent washes and dry brushing to create vibration of colour and movement across the images. I apply opaque paint selectively, for areas of luminosity or density and the colours I use are largely determined by the key-note of feeling in the work.
The other major change in my work is the introduction of birds... I wonder what might be next?
2005: In the Wind IV, Oil on Canvas, 46 x 46cm, Sold
2014: Rising II, Oil on Canvas, 61 x 61cm, $2400
As autumn arrives I consider what I may experience as I paint in the vast, dry landscape of the desert.