New Work

Newcastle Port Traffic 
Acrylic on canvas 120x140cm 2013

Newcastle Port Traffic is my most recent new work. Developed unintentionally after I resurrected a worn out canvas from the shed, it speaks very honestly of my visual experience in my current city. As a cyclist I observe the world around me in a frequent and often fleeting manner and whilst colours and patterns often catch my eye they are quickly replaced by new material on a daily basis. The manner in which I gather material is directly related to my everyday life and as more weeks pass the greater the layers of information in my brain. The layers are dense in my personal store so that when it comes time to paint, I imagine there is a deep excavation of memory that occurs in my brain. It always surprises me what happens in the studio, I paint quite freely and wait to see what my brush directs me to do. This is both an elating and doubtful process where I feel vulnerable and without control, but can ultimately be very amazed and affirmed. I liken this creative process to wandering blindfolded in the bush, arms out stretched and touching interesting branches and smelling beautiful fragrances but without a conscious path or idea of the destination. I am beginning to understand that growing up for me is figuring out how to inhabit this place without despair, for it is an experience that extends out of the studio into other parts of my life too. I have a condition that affects my outlook on many things, including my job and sometimes relationships. However, a good friend of mine recently told me that I am very good at inhabiting the present and I liked that because it seems like a good coping mechanism and a guarantee that I won't miss the fleeting or obscure inspiration that is right under my nose.

With Newcastle Port Traffic I have most recently entered the Brett Whiteley Travelling Scholarship and The Churchie Emerging Art Award. Whilst entering competitions remain a frequent job that rarely deliver any results I hope that posting my entries on this blog is a way to mark the effort and share a step in the right direction.