Landscape

I am constantly drawn to the New Zealand landscape as a subject matter, although not necessarily in a series format. I like to revisit landscape painting as a form of exercise and observation, executing works generally in oil, pastel, watercolor or pencil.

Whilst studying for my M.A in Fine Arts at Goldsmiths College in London. I was introduced to and inspired by the works of Richard Long and his walks. The simplicity and physical act of walking as an art form really appealed to me. My first walk was in Scotland for two weeks alone in the Rannoch Moors. But I realized that really it was the New Zealand landscape (in particular the South Island high country) that I connected with, perhaps due to an earlier period of my life when I lived in Chile, and would travel up into the desert or into the Andes to paint the strong colour and casting shadows.

Since then I have completed four more long distance walks. These walks are undertaken alone, carrying a tent, food and a limited array of paints with restricted paper size. I paint each day generally after the days walk describing in an abstract way my feelings, impressions and sights of that particular day’s journey. I have loved doing these expeditions into the wilderness but the effort involved and time in preparation does not make the art really a commercially viable proposition unless they are sold as a whole series. The challenge and confidence I experience whilst walking alone however out weighs any monetary value and generally it is from these trips that I see great scenes that I record with my camera and later interpret as oil paintings.

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