I met Duncan at a small gathering where he performed with Simon Lewis from Amanaska and guest singer Monique Lewis. Duncan played my favourite songs from the latest 1 Giant Leap album, it was extraordinary to watch this multi-talented artist and musician play live. Having traveled the world with co-creator Jamie Catto recording music from a variety of cultures then masterly producing recordings of the collected music. Their music sends a message of interconnectedness, that deep down we all have the same needs of love, peace and happiness and they explore how we can come together through meeting these universal needs. In an impromptu and magical moment befitting the philosophy of 1 Giant Leap it was suggested that a short film about my art be played during intermission at this private gig. Duncan felt a connection with my work and asked if I would paint him.
The new film "What about Me?" is a lovingly crafted explosion of music and philosophy, Bono describes Duncan and Jamie as "two genius film makers.."
The snake man George has a legendary reputation for removing snakes from businesses and homes in the Byron Shire. I spotted one in my studio the other day and rang him for help. When he arrived at the studio I was told not to move around as he explained the steps we had to take to find the reptile. Standing near one of my easels the snake man instructed me to shine a torch under a dark floor board. He carefully moved through the shelves of paints and materials and then both of us heard a noise which sounded like a "shish, shish" under a low lying shelf. And there it was a black snake with a yellow belly that had followed a lizard into the studio through a crack in the door.
Although it turned out to be a non poisonous tree snake, it was still a snake and I went through all the anxieties that one experiences. I felt genuine relief to know it was a safe snake. I asked him what the experience was like to confront and catch a snake. He says he is always aware of the acute sense of danger because of the unpredictably and deadliness of certain snakes, like the brown snake. He says he has to overcome the flight impulse that is very real and that he stressed that the day that he thinks it’s only just a snake, is the time to stop. He says it always takes a long time to wind down after catching a snake.
George has been catching snakes for 13 years in Byron Bay. This is a sobering thought when one keeps in mind that the snake man has caught over 2500 snakes, the brown snake being the second most toxic snake in the world. Ultimately the snake man provides an invaluable service to the community and as he really cares for the welfare of all snakes and respects their right to exist; my tree snake was given his freedom to continue to chase lizards.
Where in the world would you find three large rocks jutting from the earth, pointing skyward like the Nimbin Rocks, in NSW? Called affectionately the Timble, Cathedral and Needle rocks in early colonial times, they appear to stand together from one point, whereas from another point they stand apart, thus creating an interesting optical illusion. They inspired me to paint them at a time of day when the sun softly peaks on their points throwing up rich brown colours on the rock surface, while around the base the grey/green tones of the eucalyptus trees with their sparse leafy tops framed these giants in all their majesty.
My friends Ono, Melissa and their young son, Johann used to live under the Rocks until recently, before they embarked on their four wheel drive road trip around the top of Australia. On the many occasions I stayed with them I was intrigued when I drove to their home, how the rocks seemed to move like a merry-go-round has I drove toward them. This important site is highly valued and respected by the local Bunjalong People, the traditional land owners and is therefore an important Australian landmark.
All Creatures Great and Small - 148 x199cm Acrylic on canvas 2009
My fascination with a tiny pufferfish washed up on the beach during a morning walk was the idea behind painting "All creatures' Great and Small". Sea creatures are a common occurrence on Byron Bay beaches and most of my friends have had similar experiences. Andrew, a seasoned surfer from Lennox Head always talks about these creatures and other interesting objects he encounters while exploring the ocean and what it throws up onto the land. He describes the sea like a Pandora's box full of beautiful things, as well as strange dangerous creatures that come in all shapes, sizes and colours. His favourite remains the pufferfish which we tend to take for granted, even though it has a unique and delicate shell structure.
Often artists talk about their art finding its true home and for me that is the most satisfying part knowing that the new owners of this painting are wonderful people. To think that this small sea creature found by chance on the beach is now a large painting that hangs in a house which over looks the ocean. When it was was planning to hold a acoustic session at the studio, it was suggested that I hang the painting behind the musicians as a back drop. The couple who bought the painting were there to enjoy the acoustic session. The music was so beautiful and moving that all the singers and musicians began to interact with the painting which seemed to bring it to life. Although not tangible, I believe the vibes of the music will stay with the painting forever.
Listening to my local radio station Bay FM while working in the studio is a really enjoyable experience. It gives me a sense of being connected to what’s happening in the local community. Painting for me is a solitary experience and although I spend most of the time creating art in silence, music is an important part of my creative process. Therefore the moments I play my favourite music or listen to my local community radio station is always uplifting. Bay FM is a really important part of the Byron Bay community where the unique independence of the programs offers a rich resource of information of what’s going on in the community.
There is always something unique and different being played and the choice of music always surprises. One of my favorites is Cock a Doodle Doo a really cool breakfast show showcasing a contemporary mixture of international and local music. Lou Gurbiel-Milan has a love for indie music and each show is an enjoyable blend of quality sounds and the occasional interview and a joke or two! Tune in to Lou on Bay Fm every Tuesday from 6am to 9.am or another favourite of mine, Audio Chocolate with Richard Bell, Thursdays from 2-4pm
The importance of music can’t be underestimated while creating art. I wonder what music inspired Picasso? What great composers or songs of the time influenced artists throughout history? Such information unlike their art is intangible and was not left to prosperity. Bay Fm adds to my musical palette with songs not found so easily on commercial radio.
The themes of quizzical geese, the ambience of jetties, close friends, thriving marine worlds, and the rich textures and intricacies of daily life will feature at the exhibition by artist Carolyn Dodds, being opened at the Community Printmakers Murwillumbah (CPM Inc) this Saturday 10 October.
People on the North Coast will have the opportunity to enjoy a selection of very special and intimate original prints by Dodds, an exceptional printmaker who has been an artist in the UK, Australia and the US for over 40 years. The exhibition will feature the multiple award-winning artist’s most personal works, based on her relationships with nature, people and animals that she has encountered in her lifetime.
Having been adopted by a community of wayward geese on Maclay Island in South-East Queensland has been a significant influence in her more recent prints. “I had no say in the matter,” says Dodds, “Life immediately around me is my primary source. When the geese came into my life, they became a large part of it….I became reduced – or rather, promoted – to a flock of geese. They are a great metaphor for human community. That’s what it’s all about…marrying the inner and outer worlds, if you like.”
My father came from a beautiful area of southern Ireland called Lauraugh. This tiny town in Ireland is located between the winding roads of the Healy Pass and the Atlantic Ocean on the Beara Peninsula. The Cahal Mountains surround the old boot maker's cottage made of stone where my father grew up with his eight brothers and sisters. Most of the men in the family were cobblers and this trade would eventually be my father's ticket to Australia. He and his brother Sean tossed a coin as to where each would sail off to create a better life. Ireland at the time and particularly this part of the country was in deep recession, a far cry from the tourist gateway it has become today where travelers flock to from all over the world to get away from it all. The town is surrounded by old forests and high mountain peaks.
The valley where the old cottage has stood for more than a hundred years is said to be haunted, which does nothing to discourage visiting hikers and campers. My father was brought up in a traditional Irish way learning a trade which he followed when he arrived in Australia in the 1950s. Ironically, my current home, Byron Bay reminds of me of Lauraugh, it has a similar timeless quality and a magnificent variety of landscape with an unspoilt coastline framed by mountainous hinterland. I have fallen in love with this town and its wonderful multicultural community and it’s wealth of creativity attracting artists of all disciplines including musicians, writers, poets and actors. The painting 'The Bookmakers Cottage' was painted from memories of my visits to where these men learnt their trade as cobblers. The small room to the right of the house is where they learnt their trade from their father. More Art
Yesterday was a busy day. My time was taken up creating a nice environment in the studio before commencing to paint. As spring is in the air and daylight saving has extended extra hours of natural light, it seemed a perfect time to re-pot all our beautiful plants so that they form a nice cooling green backdrop for the summer months ahead. The plants also act as a natural barrier protecting us from the local bush turkey that regularly visits. Sunny days have a good effect on me; I seem to think more optimistically.
Then Jessie from "The Lucky Wonders" rang urgently needing a photo for a music magazine article. They had lost contact with their photographer who had taken some nice shots of them at an old red phone booth in Bangalow. Putting aside what I was doing, I said yes and 10 minutes later Jessie picked me up with my dog and off we went to do a photo shoot for their magazine article. Many photos later I was on my way back to the studio ready to begin painting and feeling upbeat for helping the girls out.
Jessie and Emma believe good music is contagious and with their new album to be released soon, there is a real buzz amongst their fans. They've been lucky enough to have Jessie's old friend Ben Franz from The Waifs come up to record the bass and some gorgeous lap steel on their album. There are two tracks I really love, Emotional and Happy Pill, and they can be heard on their myspace/theluckywonders
Where in the world would you find three large rocks jutting from the earth, pointing skyward like the Nimbin Rocks, in NSW? Called affectionately the Timble, Cathedral and Needle rocks in early colonial times, they appear to stand together from one point, whereas from another point they stand apart, thus creating an interesting optical illusion. They inspired me to paint them at a time of day when the sun softly peaks on their points throwing up rich brown colours on the rock surface, while around the base the grey/green tones of the eucalyptus trees with their sparse leafy tops framed these giants in all their majesty. 
Yesterday was a busy day. My time was taken up creating a nice environment in the studio before commencing to paint. As spring is in the air and daylight saving has extended extra hours of natural light, it seemed a perfect time to re-pot all our beautiful plants so that they form a nice cooling green backdrop for the summer months ahead. The plants also act as a natural barrier protecting us from the local bush turkey that regularly visits. Sunny days have a good effect on me; I seem to think more optimistically.
Art Blog