Back to Painting

Posted by webadmin on November 30, 2017 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Back to Painting

Where did 2017 go? Well, I did a post-graduate course in teaching, secondary education, grades 7 to 12. The course started after Australia Day in January and my results come out 5 December. Some days were tough, some days I wanted to go some place else, and some days I had wonderful surprises; but, I have got through so it seems. Academically, I do quite well. The practicums, where you observe and teach at various schools, was either inspirational or horrible. Now I am looking for a teaching post, not easy at my age, but I am determined. I might go interstate if I cannot find a school in Queensland; I have registered for supply teaching in DET (Qld Department of Education & Training) and Catholic Education.

These fifteen landscapes were done around the time of my final practicum in Innisfail, a town north of Townsville, and records some thoughts about the change in countryside.

‘The relentless sunshine crashes into the plains and hills, then splashes out a flinty forest setting, burns some vegetation, and fires rocks like so much inconsequential pottery. The forms are abstract and reflects the light’s intense activity. The landscape shimmers for the observer; the beat of life is a powerful spell, a chant that murmurs nothing secret—just life and death in drought. Innisfail is wetter than Townsville; however, the big wet season has failed again this year.

Still, there are jade places too and light plays its game there in a different set of magical rules. On my October teaching practicum in Innisfail, north of Townsville, I found green again. The place balanced red earth with easy plant growth; vegetation just grew effortlessly. Light night rain was always close by ready to fatten chlorophyll-filled cells, although it was wet for only one day out of my five weeks. Big trees that didn’t know Townsville’s harsh water restriction rules and paths mowed through rash grass; let’s face it shaping grassy places has been part of human shape-shifting for epochs.’