I have been exploring my origins or whatever the beginning of being an artist was for me. I promise not to go into how I won a prize for colouring in when I was 4.

34 years ago I painted this. Oils, 40 x 50 cm. Max Meldrum's 'Science of Appearances' was my flavour of the month at the time. I was very proud of this and I still like it.

15 years ago I was into still life and people.I'd discovered acrylics by then and was still painting about the same size. 31/2 years ago, in the cerificate 111 course, things like this happened.Acrylic, oil and watercolour, a bit smaller.

Then in first year things seemed to shrink or else expand. still pots and people but a little looser.Still oil and acrylic but I'd discovered charcoal and pastel.

Last year was VERY organic. Tim Maguire was the big influence even if I thought his very mechanical and technical way of producing his masterpieces was somehow cheating. I also finally grasped that accidents were often happy occurrences leading to quite exciting conclusions. Canvases were increasing in size and I'd reached the conclusion that oil paints were more trouble than they were worth.

This year I experimented with fabric grounds and impasto medium. I also used oils again but still think they are very annoying. I wasn't all that thrilled with the results but I am fond of the dame.

I saw the Turner to Monet landscape exhibition in Canberra at Easter and fell in love with the German landscape painters. I love their dense colour and strong shapes. Caspar David Freidrich was mind blowing.


James Guppy is a present favourite. I found his work on the internet and love it. It combines strength, graceful organic shape and wonderful colour - all I aspire to. I live in hope.

The start of yet another rock picture

Rock pot is far from finished but I started this today in class. The inspiration was the scrappy mess on cardboard that I did in a fit of really blazing anger in order to get it all out in some way other than abusing a hooman.

So far, I think it may work. It has the same basic composition as Rockpot but is smooth instead of rough and colourful instead of monotone. We'll see!

This is the mess generated by beginning some small watercolours of stones. I hope there will be at least 6 and if possible about a dozen.
I'm into rocks at present. Does it show? They have such wonderful shapes and colours and are affected by light and shade and let's face it, that's painting!
Rocks are the building blocks of our world. The eons of our history are contained in their layers, faults and eroded shapes and in the fossils they have captured.
Human history was first recorded on their surface and engraved in them. They were our first tools and unfortunately, our first weapons.
Rocks in landscape trigger an emotional response as their solidity contrasts with the softness of water, soil or vegetation. so I paint rocks.

The third of the small stone watercolours, finished 2 September 08.

Number 4. 80908

Exit

This is 'Exit' of which I am quite proud.

It is the first of the rocky landscape paintings.

Rockpot

Beginning of work for exhibition

I'm calling this the 'Rockpot' for now until inspiration dawns

It is growing slowly. I think I've found its title.

On Chris Worfold's advice I have been reading about Salvador Dali. I knew about his surreal ladies with drawers in strange places but have been looking at his landscapes. Hence the darker sky and pearlescent background. Sunday afternoon and I think I have just about done it! Haven't painted the edges and all that stuff but it seems at last to be what I wanted when I began.

Diaries