The Spirit of the Dragon, The Power of the Tiger
May 15, 2012 § Leave a comment
Spirit of the Dragon, Power of the Tiger (2012) 24″x36″ + 2 panels 16″x20″ Acrylic and glue on paper and canvas
Last year my sons asked me to paint them a dragon & a tiger, I agreed and procrastinated on the project until January when Chinese New Year celebrations (for the year of the Dragon!) gave me the inspiration for this piece. I believe that the saying painted on the canvas – long ma jing shen hu hu sheng wei (Spirit of the Dragon, Power of the Tiger) is used to wish someone great health and success.
Now I just have to do that Tiger painting …
Nian
May 15, 2012 § Leave a comment
Nian (2011) 24″x36″ Acrylic and glue on paper and canvas
I have been told that this is the chinese character for mindfulness. It’s a combination of two separate characters – the top part meaning now & the bottom meaning heart or mind.
It’s hung near the front door & always a good reminder as I rush out the door multitasking 7 or 8 things as I go …
When i grow up
May 15, 2012 § Leave a comment
When i grow up (2011) 4 panels 12″x16″ Acrylic, glue, paper and fabric on canvas
What creative things did you love to do as a kid? Drawing battle ships, insects, dress after endless dress or maybe losing yourself for days on end in a book … ok with that list maybe it was just me 😉
Still life
May 15, 2012 § Leave a comment
The Happy Mother (2011) 36″x48″ Acrylic and glue on paper and canvas
One of my favorite books about mothering and taking care of yourself is “Buddhism for Mothers” by Sarah Napthali (2003 Allen & Unwin). At the start of the book she sketches an image of the ‘Happy Mother’: “Imagine a calm, serene mother, who accepts whatever life presents her with. Unexpected or unwanted events don’t rattle her. She never over-reacts. She’s aware of the times when she lacks wisdom or compassion but doesn’t waste days feeling guilty, she might do better next time. She’s self-aware, but because she has fostered self-love, she is not self-conscious or self-absorbed when she talks to others. Her friends say she is gentle and kind in a genuine way. Her brothers and sisters add that she is clear in her thinking and good at making decisions. She seems to make others feel comfortable, special even, and there’s no shortage of people who love her. Her children delight in her company for she makes them feel important and understood. She’s creative, spontaneous and quick to laugh because no matter what she’s doing, life is play, not work.” (page 9).
I am not this woman. But looking at this painting reminds me of the loving kindness and calm I could find to be.
Dream (2011) 4 panels 24″x36″ Acrylic and glue on paper and canvas
Home?
May 15, 2012 § Leave a comment
Home? (2011) 20″x24″ + 20″x60″ Acrylic paint and glue on paper and canvas
Home? is a painting that asks where is home? Is it your physical location at this point in time, maybe the place where you spent you childhood, or is it the place where loved ones are even if you are not. This painting was created when I was feeling homesick & realized that I didn’t actually know what ‘home’ it was that I wanted to return to … so I created a list of the places our little family has lived in to see if I could work out where I wanted to be…
Universe Series
August 19, 2010 § 2 Comments
Big Bang (2010) 40″x30″ Acrylic paint and glue on paper and canvas
Rainbow Serpent Traveling The Universe (2010) 76″x26″ Acrylic paint and glue on paper and canvas
Universe is a series of two paintings representing different interpretations of the universe and how it was formed. ‘Big Bang’ depicts modern, scientific understanding whereas ‘Rainbow Serpent Traveling The Universe’ highlights the role of storytelling and fable in our knowledge. The works are compiled using a mixed technique of paint and collage and are influenced by indigenous Australian “representational” art as well as fabric quilting styles.
Florida Wild! Series
August 18, 2010 § Leave a comment
Sea Turtle (2010) 40″x30″ Acrylic paint & glue on paper & canvas
Aligator (2010) 36″x36″ Acrylic paint & glue on paper & canvas
Manatee (2010) 48″x36″ Acrylic paint & glue on paper and canvas
Florida Wild! is a series of three paintings depicting iconic Floridian animals – the Sea Turtle, the Alligator and the Manatee. The works are compiled using a mixed technique of paint and collage and are influenced by indigenous Australian “representational” art as well as fabric quilting styles.
Sea: Legs Series
August 17, 2010 § 2 Comments
Sea: Legs – Sea Star, Crab & Jellyfish (2010) 20″x16″ Acrylic paint & glue on paper & board
Sea: Legs is a series of three paintings which highlight the radical differences in morphology of marine life and in particular what many loosely (and incorrectly) call ‘legs’. The works are composed using a mixed technique of paint and collage are influenced by indigenous Australian “representational” art as well as fabric quilting styles.
All Around The World Series
August 16, 2010 § Leave a comment
All Around The World (2010) 20″x16″ (each) Acrylic paint & glue on paper and board
This series of six paintings uses shredded maps as the background for each of the continents. Paper mache was used to apply the maps onto art board, while the continents are acrylic paint on paper.
Vivid Art Space 