I have been aware for some time now that standing for hours in front of my easel, lost in the creative process is an artist's dream, particularly when everything is flowing. The problem is that becoming lost in ones creative flow can also mean forgetting about the importance of physical activity. I have been walking daily these past three months and finding that exercise frees my mind, pumps oxygen into my body and re-energizes my creativity. It's great stuff.
The early morning walk has had a really positive influence on my art. Getting out into the open air, rather than inhaling paint fumes has made a big difference to my energy levels. I am learning to trust more intuitively the creative ideas that pop into my mind while walking and I often take these ideas back into the studio for further development. The experience of nature triggers mental imagery that is totally unrelated to the present moment, yet is fuelled by the power of being in that moment.
The gift of walking projects my creativity into a solid space before my eyes, sculpting my senses so that I am forced to pause and reflect on the colour, texture, light and form that nature so artfully provides. While walking everything is absorbed unconsciously. For example the sound of the wind, the call of a bird are influences which end up resonating in in the layers of paint hidden from the viewer's naked eye.
This drawing is about my walks on a coffee plantation set in the hills behind Byron Bay. For the past 3 & a half years, friends have been renting the farmhouse on the property. The hardwood house sits on the edge of the plantation and boasts a magnificent balcony wrapping the entire building. There are views of an awesome, ancient fig tree, affectionately known as the 'Avatar Tree' because of its similar look to the one in the movie. The house reminds me of an earlier time when life was more connected to the land and ran at a slower pace.
My friends recently had to say goodbye to this place due to the Pacific Highway upgrade, the new freeway will ruin this very spot we had all fallen in love with. The old house will be moved to another location on the property making way for the road.
The practice of regular walking awakens ideas and everything feels possible in creating art. Even better for me starting the day with a long walk is the physical and mental preparation that I need to prepare for a day in the studio. I am fortunate to live in one of the most beautiful places. The walk to the lighthouse is inspiring and the long walk from home to the studio has become a source of inspiration. I carry a small scetchbook and when ideas come I record them knowing that may feed an idea for a painting later. I really value those sketches because they were realized through walking.
Walking is more than exercise it's the whole experience of connecting with nature, your environment, the wildlife and people.Walking is a reflective experience where space and time are suspended and imagination ignited, rekindling the creative spirit. Recently while walking the abandoned railway track from Belongil into Byron Bay I was reminded how nature quietly claims back its space and how quickly the railway line slowly disappears under grass and bushes.
The early morning walk is alive with native wildlife including wallabies and array of birds and insects. An Australian bush turkey delicately surveys the ground for her breakfast with its red head and yellow bare skinned neck. She meanders across the track in a solitary kind of way. The rail line is quietly disappearing, swallowed by the enduring strength of the natural environment. Walking and feeling the power of nature is always a source of creative inspiration for me.
I have been fascinated for many years by the afternoon sunsets at the Cape Byron lighthouse and the magnificent rotating lens that reflects back the setting sun. The sun hits the Lighthouse lens from the west and the light it captures is very similar to the reflected light of a diamond. On the east side of the lens the light filters through like a soft ember flame, creating a beautiful flowing light that disappears when the automatic light switches on as night falls. At night the lighthouse with it's light beamed from an eight ton lens shines brightly from its position on the most easterly point of Australia. The light in the tower revolves slowly sending forth its safety message reflecting back everything around it, birds flying, whales breaching, and at dusk the sun catches the glass face and reflects the light back to the dying embers of the setting sun. There’s a rhythm about a lighthouse that we, as humans naturally relate to.
Being a regular visitor to the lighthouse over the years I have definitely developed a personal relationship with this beautiful castle-like structure with it's large ornate crown and it's breathtaking panoramic views including Mount Warning and beyond. The concrete blokes that hold it together always fascinate me and, depending on the angle that you view them, there is always a new line or shape that intrigues. Looking through the side arched windows at the entrance door and seeing people stroll by is like watching a movie. Hats off to architect Charles Harding for building this lighthouse in the style of his predecessor James Barnet. The legacy that these men have left behind is not just a magnificent lighthouse but also an inspirational landmark.
Cape Byron light house and the magnificent rotating lens.
The Whale Watching season is here again in Byron Bay, with the Byron Bay Lighthouse being a popular spot to view the migration of humpback whales travelling up north to the Great Barrier Reef to its warmer waters. From its lookout point you can see Julian Rocks, a protected and precious environment, some day's whales and dolphins play. This painting,"Night Play at Cosy Corner", is a celebration of the magnificence of the whale breaching. The colours and the movement in this painting are a tribute to a mammal that touches and changes our lives through its simple and powerful presence.
During a cyclone in 1921 the ship the SS Wollongbar broke
free from the old Byron Bay Pier and sank just offshore at Belongil
Beach. The Wreck lays there to this day and is a well - liked surfing
spot with excellent surf breaks. The exposed boiler provides a
physical link to the past when the SS Wollongbar was one of the fastest
ships in Australian waters carrying up to 300 passengers and cargo. The
ship was berthed at the Byron Bay jetty loaded with produce bound for
Sydney. An easterly gale created hazardous conditions however the
captain decided to release the vessel in an attempt to get her out to
sea. The anchor failed to hold the ship and it was blown inshore and
received considerable hull damage making it impossible to re-float. The
ninety crew were rescued and eventually the vessel was sold at auction
and completely dismantled.
The idea for the painting The Wreck came
about whilst walking the beach after massive storms and an unusually low tide. It was
a beautiful experience, a calm overcast day with an unusual color in the
sky. The boiler is the main feature of The Wreck, it protrudes out of the
ocean in a powerful way and is covered with rust and crustaceans. The waves
were breaking and swirling over the boiler creating magnificent clouds of spray
and movement. I was struck at how low the tide was, exposing the boilers against the
crashing waves with Julian Rocks in full view in the background.
I was lucky to be able to capture footage of 'The Pass' one evening when there was only a few people and the most committed surfers catching waves that rolled into the evening sunset. Looking through the eye of the video camera I was transported by the constantly changing light and ambience of this place. Nothing was still , so much movement and rhythm all rolling into each other. A seagull dancing on the pristine sand, dolphins playing in the golden light, surfers of all ages and experiences waiting for that perfect wave as evening falls. One guy was especially good on his ocean kayak catching waves that seem to roll on forever.
The viewing platform is called 'Fisherman's Lookout' and is loved by locals and visitors alike for its sweeping views of the bay, its rustic rock structure, and unusual bushes and trees whose branches stretch out to the sky creating a unique visual element. Visiting "The Pass" is a always a uplifting and rewarding experience.
I found this old photo from my travels overseas during the late nineties. I was in Berlin during winter and walking the streets was a surreal experience coming straight from summer in Australia. I remember finding a second hand shop, very much like St Vincent’s De Paul in Australia, looking for warm clothing as the things I'd bought with me were not suited to such biting cold and heavy snow. Luckily I found this large bright green waterproof jacket which was perfect for exploring outdoors and there was room to stow my old SLR camera which I used to snap a few photos of Berlin street life.
During my stay, there was one image that always intrigued me. It was a photo of a woman and her two dogs whom I photographed while walking through a city park alone. She was playing with her dogs and there was such joy in her face. It was obvious she was very proud of them as I am of my dog. I had a just visited the Brandenberg Gate and the austere image of this historical gateway was such a stark contrast to this simple every day occurrence that I felt the need to capture the moment.
I remember asking her if I could take a photo. She nodded pleased to show off her two four legged friends whom she scooped into her arms so that I could record their faces. As she walked away I thought she doesn't know that I come from Australia, half way around the world, neither do I recall the German names she called her dogs. As I look at them now I can't help wondering what kind of life did they lead together and were these dogs one of many canine friends who shared her life over the years.
The practice of regular walking awakens ideas and everything feels possible in creating art. Even better for me starting the day with a long walk is the physical and mental preparation that I need to prepare for a day in the studio. I am fortunate to live in one of the most beautiful places. The walk to the lighthouse is inspiring and the long walk from home to the studio has become a source of inspiration. I carry a small scetchbook and when ideas come I record them knowing that may feed an idea for a painting later. I really value those sketches because they were realized through walking. 
I have been fascinated for many years by the afternoon sunsets at the Cape Byron lighthouse and the magnificent rotating lens that reflects back the setting sun. The sun hits the Lighthouse lens from the west and the light it captures is very similar to the reflected light of a diamond. On the east side of the lens the light filters through like a soft ember flame, creating a beautiful flowing light that disappears when the automatic light switches on as night falls. At night the lighthouse with it's light beamed from an eight ton lens shines brightly from its position on the most easterly point of Australia. The light in the tower revolves slowly sending forth its safety message reflecting back everything around it, birds flying, whales breaching, and at dusk the sun catches the glass face and reflects the light back to the dying embers of the setting sun. There’s a rhythm about a lighthouse that we, as humans naturally relate to.
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