Paintings

This page contains some new works, but mainly paintings that I have sold in order to retain a digital record. If as a visitor, you see a piece you own I would appreciate an email about it, particularly very early works. Here I open with a collection of Works On Paper (WOP) from my 2015 New Media Portfolio that I presented to the Arts Department of James Cook University for which I earned a High Distinction. I paint on paper and canvas, sometimes on wood panels and in the far past I did some murals which have most likely been lost. On my exhibition page mixed in with the ceramics are some paintings too; however, I will put copies of paintings sold here as well. Unfortunately, as I have said elsewhere I was painting during the non-selfie era. Too many paintings of mine have never been recorded and some of the earlier works were taken on old standard cameras of the time which were awful.

At the end of this group I will add responses to collectors who have found this site. Thank you to those people; I respect privacy if requested.

Please highlight any small image to open more information:

ACCEPTING THE STORM, 2015 gouache on paper, 420 x 594mm.

The opening painting in a portfolio of works presented for my NM3001 artist assessment. All works are examples of recent art practice and represent my exploration of the local landscape as a subject for examining my personal emotional responses with the view of seeing art as the most human of interventions for healing of well-being.

Artist Statement:

I aim for an emotional reflection rather than clarity or realism in my gestural painting. The technique is physically demanding, as I experienced making pottery that used much of the same requirements: pushing, pulling, hammering, dampening, and scraping surfaces. As well, pottery allows for an imperfect finish, or surface, to pieces stressing the acceptance of variations. I believe art making is something innate within all of us, just needing an expression, and judging art from other times is a useless pursuit as it exists in its own place and time. However, as Post-Modernism stated nothing is new, nothing is truly original, and re-creation is the norm so rather than be bothered by this; everything is available to play with. Art’s most important role is self-discovery and self-expression; fulfillment which needs no standard technique or demand. My representations are based on memory, deconstruction, idiosyncratic thoughts, vivid sensitivity, literature, moods, archetypes, the natural world, otherness, and exploration.

LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS, 2015 ink & gouache on paper, 420 x 594 mm.

‘I draw and paint for no reason than I need to create. I am a constant doodler and then I paint in intense sessions that last for two to three hours before my hands hurt. I like to paint landscapes that have a sense of watching and waiting—the viewer no doubt—landscapes that initiate flights of fancy.’

: 2015 ink and gouache on paper, 420 x 594 mm.

: 2015 ink and gouache on paper, 420 x 594 mm.

: 2015 ink, gouache and acrylic on paper, 420 x 594 mm.

: 2015 ink, gouache and watercolour on paper, 420 x 594 mm.

: 2015 gouache and acrylic on paper, 420 x 594 mm.

: 2015 ink, gouache and acrylic on paper, 420 x 594 mm.

: 2015 ink, gouache and watercolour on paper, 420 x 594 mm.

: 2015 gouache on paper, 420 x 594 mm.

: 2015 gouache on paper, 420 x 594 mm

: 2015 gouache and acrylic on paper, 420 x 594 mm.

: 2015 gouache and pencil on paper, 420 x 594 mm.

: 2015 acrylic on paper, 420 x 594 mm.

: 2015 acrylic on paper, 420 x 594 mm.

: 2015 India ink on paper, 420 x 594 mm.

: 2015 gouache and ink on paper, 420 x 594 mm.

: 2015 gouache and acrylic on rag paper, 420 x 594 mm.

: 2015 gouache and acrylic on paper, 420 x 594 mm.

: 2015 gouache and acrylic on paper, 420 x 594 mm.

From this point are all archived paintings, as with all small images/icons on this blog highlight them for information:

: I collected other potter’s work through my time including this white vase with blue flowers.

: WOP A2 often I may repeat a popular work. Cats at night reflect light back as torches and I have used this image in a story I am writing.

: WOP A2 I painted this blue cat after a piece I had sculpted earlier and I liked the idea of a creature that coulod make the unatural world seem quite livable.

: This dragon is based on a dinosaur and is done entirely in coloured inks, WOP A2

: WOP A2, but also a copy made on canvas.

: Two of my favourite themes together.

: WOP A2 2007 I painted this cat based on my Lily a tortoise shell cat who stared into the night with eyes so dark.

: WOP A2 gouache and ink I painted this fellow as sometimes I think the town is a bit ratty.

: I painted this scene a couple of times, some on A2 paper, and at least one on a 50 x 60 canvas.

: Acrylic on canvas 50 x 60 cm

: I painted many versions of this cat design, based on a real cat that had a touch of the Siamese and used to cross his legs.

: WOP A2, I paint these blooms regularly because when I can I grow them for pleasure and to feed the white cockatoos

: Acrylic on canvas when he died I felt more grief than I had for my sister’s and mother’s passing.

: I often have done inspirational works with helpful phrases which usually get given away for gifts

: Work on paper A2 framed, this one sold at the Flinders Gallery.

: This is an old art college work where I did print making as a subject option.

: Down on the waterfront and I think this is common in every country, stray cats can be found.

: I did this for ZOOD 2004, but sold it later through the Flinders Gallery

: Cats can and do make friends of each other, and I notice if they have a strong trait like Siamese, it works better.

: A2 work on paper, although I did a version on a 50 x 60 cm canvas.

: A2 on paper, I sold a couple of versions of this.

: This is one of the few paintings I own from the past. Painted while managing the Squatters Craft Gallery, Bribie Island where I lived for a year.

: I painted this while at art college and it is owned by a Townsville resident now.

: I displayed this at the Boston Gallery, Clayfield, Brisbane (Director Lillian Jack) in an exhibition of my landscapes in 1980, sold.

: I lived in rough conditions on a small block of land with three cats after I was a victim of violent crime where I survived being stabbed. I painted like Vincent Van Gogh – that is, slowly going mad.

: I believe this belongs to Bob Fredman of the Sunshine Coast who has contacted me through this website about ten paintings distributed throughout their family

: The Rose of Sharon is a type of hibiscus that is hard to grow in the tropics, I had a shrub for a couple of years before it succumbed to the intense humidity, better grown in cooler climes.

: I did two waterlily paintings for a request-commission for a customer at the Palms Gallery, Hyde Park, Townsville – both sold

: The second of the request-commission for the subject, painted as the other from sketches

: While studying for a Certificate 111 in Aged Care in 2009, I painted this for a fellow care worker who was getting a hard time from jealous co-workers.

: Painted and sold in Townsville, the dog dominates the painting; however, a homestead is to the right, this dog is patiently waiting for his friend to return. I was very pleased with the heavy clouds which adds some threat to the image

: Second of two small canvases done for a friend at university

: A commission I did for a friend at university, one of two small canvases of her pet dogs.

: During 2015, my beloved companion cat Mr Maximus Readings died. I was heart broken, so when the opportunity appeared to adopt Charlie from Cas Garvey who went to work as an editor and copy writer of Mackay Daily Mercury, I was so pleased and made this small painting as a token gift for her generosity

: Max the wonder dog – painted for a pal at James Cook University from a digital image she emailed me. She and her partner now live in Brisbane – I miss them

: I painted this for Georgina’s partner Simon who is part of the support team for these Hercules monsters, I painted this as though flying past Townsville’s Castle Hill which is in the city’s centre and would be logistically impossible; never mind, that’s art for you

: Caravan Cats was painted in a caravan in 1980 when I was living at Eudlo on the Sunshine Coast.

: I thank Bob Fredman for sending me this image as it was collected by him when I exhibited it in one of the first Bribie Island Art Festivals.

: Magnetic Island is covered in remarkable anthropomorphic stones.

: This is one of my first paintings, a modernist head inspired by Picasso

: A large tonal painting of an imaginary place exhibited in an exhibition at the Spring Hill Gallery

: Painted around 1980 as part of a series of Cosmic Coffee Pots

: 60 x 75 cm, acrylic on canvas painted en plain air taking in a circle of gums and palms

: Painted en plain air on Bribie Island, I was struck how the environment looked like a cultured garden full of flowering native plants including Banksias and Tea Trees

: During my recovery from surgery I lived for a year in a three by three metre square tin shed with three cats. Eudlo is known for its Buddhist Temple retreat and history as a popular 19th century holiday place

: I used standard stretched quality canvases, 45 x 60 cm, and experimented painting blooms, the colours were bright and the paint applied directly with fingers and palette knife, the Matisse range of acrylics are superb

: Painted one evening, a long time ago, sold at a Weyba Exhibition at Noosa

: Owned by Bob Fredman, Sunshine Coast, small framed canvas

: This painting won me a substantial award of $300 which was a lot of money then. It was painted on site and judged by a local school arts teacher for the real estate company developing the site.

: I painted a few versions of this theme, I love the large perfumed blooms and everywhere I go I plant these adaptable pretty plants

: College of Art exercise on water as a theme, part of a group of three

: Similar to the cats, lino prints made at art college in a printing class, series of six

: Self-portrait painted in 1984

: From Art College days a series of six lino prints made in a first year printing class option

: Presented to Connie Hoedt, ceramic curator and noted artisan, author and past Trustee of Queensland’s State Gallery at Southbank

: Large canvas with cats that have passed on: Gan Puss the large ginger and white, Monet and Degas the black and white tabbies, and Orlando in the forground

: Commission portrait for the man’s birthday, the guilt frame was glorious

: Commission by a local arts advocate Terry O’Toole who is an award winning architect and has supported many artists with commissions.

: Painted from sketches made from a local ajistment yard

: Acrylic on Canvas (24 x 30 inches) – an old work between 1970-81

Hi Robert

I was in my local op shop in Melbourne today and came across a painting that I just had to buy – the colours were beautiful, and it was just the piece I was looking for. It is signed with your name and is titled “Sunshine Coast”. From looking at your website, I think it might be one of your earlier works and I thought you’d be interested to see it again. I’d like to hear more about it if you can remember?

Kind regards,

K. S.

I know that painting is early, and I’ll tell you the story. In 1978 I was the victim of a violent crime after being stabbed three times in the back. Happened on the famous Victoria Street Stairs Kings Cross, after I recovered I returned to the family fold – a story of horror, full of abuse, never mind. My mother was schizophrenic with paranoid delusions and such fun to be around NOT!

Nevertheless, she was a painter and had formed the Weyba Art Group which painted around the Sunshine Coast. We knew a lot of people with money, Noosa was awash with them. One of them bought that painting, your image matches my records. Rich people get around and some age into obscurity. A lot of my work has ended up with their relatives or sold on as my name can be found in various places and is on certain archived research materials. Most of my collected stuff is in the Brisbane City Collection, Townsville Council, and various places like the Townsville Hospital.

That painting is between 1979 to 1981, I’m not sure of the exact date. I went to the QLD College of Art in 1984 and before that I ran the Bribie Island Art and Craft Centre.