The Waterfall

It’s an art school cliché that the most naïve and fresh out of high school student will always paint a waterfall; just like they will always develop large, underexposed glossy black and white images of their dog or cat in their first Photography lessons. What’s important and touching to their impressionable eye and sensibilities is banal shite to the initiated mind and trained eye.

I grew up near a waterfall and typical of most parts of Australia it was either trickling like a gutter in dry spells or gushing like a Hydroelectric Plant after periods of rain.

The local council have built a walking path through there in recent years; it’s kind of lost it’s charm as it was such a difficult spot to climb down to many people didn’t bother making the effort. I honestly believe there will be more damage done to the forest rather than prevented by visitors. Idiots in grass roots council can never be told.

I have done a series of painting relating to the waterfall over the years, because it was a place my friends and I visited and had adventures in; later we drank booze there by the fire and took girls. It was a magical kind of place; the constant running water was kind of meditative; like white noise in the background.

I like the idea of it being a secluded and relaxing place but with an element of danger. When I began this doodle I had included a figure of a man looking down on the woman lying in the sun below. I painted him out of it; it made me uncomfortable but perhaps it was a mistake. Who knew what the man’s motives were. Was he a dangerous man, looking to harm her… or just looking..? Was he a gay guy walking his dog, admiring her fashion sense..? Was he her boyfriend, bringing her some lunch..? I like this ambiguity.

Many feminist thinkers, artists and philosophers have suggested that the waterfall as a motif is a euphemism for the vagina. The meeting point of a valley, moisture, somewhere life springs from. Goodness-gracious. How embarrassing, he said, mopping his brow. I do like girls, very much actually, but I don’t think I had this in mind.

Or did I..? The collective consciousness may be having the last laugh.



I think the painting needs to be pushed a lot further so I view this as a study; an experiment.


Stay tuned; when I find time I may just be able to get back into the waterfall again.

Study of The Venus de Milo

Lead pencil study of the Venus de Milo

Aphrodite of Milos (Greek: Αφροδίτη της Μήλου, Aphroditē tēs Mēlou), better known as the Venus de Milo, one of the most famous works of ancient Greek sculpture. Created some time between 130 and 100 BC, it is believed to depict Aphrodite (Venus to the Romans) the Greek goddess of love and beauty. It is a marble sculpture, slightly larger than life size at 203 cm (6 ft 8 in) high. Its arms and original plinth have been lost. From an inscription that was on its plinth, it is thought to be the work of Alexandros of Antioch; it was earlier mistakenly attributed to the master sculptor Praxiteles. It is at present on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

Famed for her missing arms, I have always wondered if she was actually playing the banjo.

In all seriousness, archeologists and art historians believe her right arm extended across her torso, her hand resting on her left knee, as if holding up her drapery. The left arm was holding an apple at roughly eye level.

Not every apple will keep the doctor away, least of all a marble one; but aside from her missing arms old father time has been pretty kind to her.

Christ Triptych

A while ago I produced this Christian triptych for a fundraiser my Mother was running. It seemed to produce a really positive response from everyone who viewed it.

I’m not a religious person; I have many issues with organized religion, and my own beliefs which are complex and ironically simple at the same time. I still believe though there is a great deal of good which comes from it, such as community support, tradition, enlightenment on many levels and sheer goodness.

There really isn’t enough of that in the world so it should be encouraged, not mocked or derided.

I chose a triptych as it’s a type of work which developed through Christianity. In the first few centuries as the church developed, folding three-piece screens were set up behind altars for masses. After a period, Christian motifs appeared on them and this developed directly into the tradition of multi-paneled painting and associated art which is employed world-wide throughout studios and galleries.

In producing this work I was aiming for imagery which everyone could relate to. Elderly people, little children, those who don’t normally view art, and hopefully some of those who do. The result is it’s a little benign by some standards. Regardless, it touched people on some level and for this I’m glad.

It also raised several thousand for impoverished people in South America, so for this I’m very glad.

Faded Thoughts

I found an old photo of an ex-girlfriend in a book I picked up last night. Realized I hadn't thought about her in a long time. It seemed a lifetime ago. It's funny how time changes the way you feel. Once apon a time you feel like you would die for someone, then you feel the oppposite, then you feel nothing.

Sometimes in life that is, happily it doesen't always turn out that way.

Still, made me think. Wondered how she was. Not exactly intrigued, too much water has passed under the bridge, but hope she’s doing well.

Remembered these little sketches I'd scanned from an old sketchbook of our time together. Pretty good.

The Cabinet Sketch

In keeping with the theme of posting old drawings, I found this little sketch I did a year ago today.

How amazing that I would sit down at my parents place and discover it on their computer..?

I’ve always been the type of sentimental person who looks at old things I have held onto; even movie tickets, and wondered what I was doing on that day. What I was thinking… Feeling… Was I happy or otherwise?

Today I can look at this drawing with the scribbled little date underneath it and know this time last year I was doing a drawing of my grandmother’s old cabinet.

She passed away not quite 20 years ago now. So much has changed.

I wonder what she would have though of it..?

Drawing Lessons

An initial sketch for an old proposal for a mural... Nice line-work, completely from my imagination. The client wanted a waterfall in order to relax customers.