Four seasons in Japan
Artist's Statement
I am an Australian artist working primarily in oil and mixed media on canvas and paper. Over more than forty years, my work has evolved to become an exploration of the graphic gesture at the moment of creation. I see my hand as a seismograph, registering the moments of an individual life. It's about the movement from the heart, via the breath and the hand, to the canvas; the painterly evidence of mind, emotion and body.
Living and Working in Japan 2024-2025
In mid-2024, I moved to Japan for 18 months, to paint, write and experience the four seasons. My studio conditions meant that I couldn't use oil paint or canvases. As such, I worked on a smaller scale and exclusively on paper. Far from feeling restricted, these 'limitations', and the inspiration of Japan's natural environment, resulted in a new direction and a further expression of my love of gesture and mark making.
Living and Working in Japan 2024-2025
In mid-2024, I moved to Japan for 18 months, to paint, write and experience the four seasons. My studio conditions meant that I couldn't use oil paint or canvases. As such, I worked on a smaller scale and exclusively on paper. Far from feeling restricted, these 'limitations', and the inspiration of Japan's natural environment, resulted in a new direction and a further expression of my love of gesture and mark making.
Poetry
For the last fifteen years I have been writing haiku-style poetry. It grew out of my interest in Buddhism and Japanese literature and culture. These short, three-line poems, are not illustrations of my visual art, but they are very visual and, as with traditional haiku, are often inspired by the natural world. Poetry enables me to record the way I experience the world in a way that is different from the visual medium. For more information about my poetry, please go to the POETRY page or read my blog.
