As the first movement in this diptych, this work captures the expansive, austere beauty of the Tasmanian high country. Here, the landscape is defined by its exposure—wide stretches of muted grasses and pale earth under a long, open light. The emergence of foxgloves provides a luminous vertical interruption, a brief moment of color that heightens our awareness of the surrounding weathered environment.
Working with oil and wax on board, I seek to mirror the physical and atmospheric qualities of these high plains. The building and scraping of pigment creates a surface that holds traces of wind and time, much like the land itself. The wax lends a subtle translucence to the paint, allowing light to settle deep within the layers to evoke the thin, cool air of the altitude. This piece invites you to pause and observe the delicate harmony between the resilience of the land and the transient beauty that takes root within it60cm x 60cm Oil and wax on board ( Painting #1 in a diptych)