patiently handmade and  smoothed stones. 

arranged in various compositions. 

featured timber - hakea, callistemon, plum.

 timber retrieved from fallen branches 

another version....

a bit of escapism from the furnace that is 41 degrees outside. today.

the paper is not suited to watercolor, so had to add definition by adding ink line.

sketching outside today

experimenting on a small scale 

vistas condensed inside a shell

Walking the  Mornington Peninsula National Park trail yesterday. Rested beneath the shade of  the cliffs, and managed a brief  5 minute sketch. Drinking water as precious as gold in this heat , so resorted to spittle with watercolor. Plenty of salt water about but that wouldn't do much good to my materials. Pretty soon , the waves started encroaching on my safe little hideaway, so  thought it best to  move on.

prom dreaming

recent ipad sketch

to the top of a hill

a vast sky

a sea of clouds

to see space above

and beyond

opened the cage

vision was hindered not 

by tall concrete 

blocks of invasion

I could see.

various drawings made in the garden

ipad sketches of

the neighbours tidy weatherboard

and

the old outhouse

to reach the top of a hill while walking the burbs, and be presented with a vast panorama of sky and clouds abovea grey and depressing urban landscape.

the mind needs to see space above and beyond for mental clarity.

the spread of high rise buildings into the urban landscape and the subsequent claustrophobic atmosphere will pose further threat to the mental health of the population. 

seems to be the essential plan of the controller.

round organic shapes make their appearance  in most of my paintings so i'm playing around with various compositions using this three dimensional method to explore the possibilities. 

 another rendition to add to the series  - white clouds drift

this version acrylic on canvas 100 x 70 cm

two differne tversions of th eprom coastline. both watercolor and gouache on paper. measuring both approx. 12 x 16 cm.

ipad drawings of the prom and surrounds continued

i've taken to th e ipad as it's so convenient. And although I 've heard some derogatory opinions about ipad art as being 'souless' and 'lacking life', I have to disagree entirely. I really like the backlight that enters the image and believe the artist can express themselves quite adequately using this medium. Sure it lacks the tactile appeal of paint, canvas and paper, but I find th e ipad is a great way for an artist to express themselves. Atmosphere, color, mood and light can still be achieved using the ipad. More importantly, I can lose myself in it entirely; which is why I make art.

drawings of the prom and surrounds, south gippsland

So I've been coming to grips with new technology, and playing around with Procreate for the ipad.
It's fun, and relaxing, no cleaning up afterwards, portable, and convenient. Every medium has it's disadvantages, and the ipads one, is in the playing area of the screen, which can be a bit restrictive..

surf's surge - abstract

                                                        Brewing tempest over

   Ocean of blue;

                                                                     Anticipating the surf's surge.

acrylic on masonite

120 x 150 cm

this time of the year really gets my dander up.

Tipping point - north

'Tipping Point - North'

acrylic and watercolor on cardboard 

30 x 30 cm

Today's painting  is based on the earth's suffering ; the reality of the situation of which I find frightening and one that I have no control over. 

It's therapeutic for me to therefore paint the situation.

I've painted a few tipping points now,

only this one features all the colors evident of an arctic landscape.

One that is at the cusp of the long polar night and where only a glimpse of light remains.

 Detail of the paintwork....