Projects in the Pipeline

This month of April Kartel Espresso Bar in Cabarita will be showcasing a collection of my works for the next three weeks. An assortment of old and new designs will be displayed during this period; including paintings, collages and prints. So if you have some time on your hands go for a road trip and check it out.

Tee Shirt Designs continued...'

'Pad Thai Panda'

'Rocky Raccoon'

'Little Red'

'Peter's Rabbit'

'Night Owl'

'Dragon Cake'

Tee Shirt Designs

My son, Milan, modelling one of the t-shirts in this line for children. This design is titled, 'The Hungry Caterpillar', obviously inspired by the children's classic. I thought it might be an interesting twist to make him eat a Greek Salad. I have begun experimenting with hand painting in different colours but have found it is best to limit the colour palette especially on coloured shirts.

'Personal Narratives' continued...

'Lucy Wished...'

'Maisie Practised...'

'Archie Remembered...'

'Winston Realised...'

Working on Wood

'Penny Aimed...'

Penny is the third in this series but the first attempt in collaging on wood. I am finding working on this surface pleasing as it allows me to not worry about the durability of the surface and to scale back when I am not pleased about the composition of the papers. While I find the accomplishment of finishing a painting a thrill, the ability to work in a quicker and more experimental collage fashion just as rewarding. I love to see the evolution of the materials and appreciate the return to drawing.

Personal Narratives

'Edith Sighed...'

'Henry Thought...'

The viewer brings their own personal history, beliefs and culture when examining texts. Artworks are visual texts. I wanted to create a series of works where the viewer is invited to create their own stories by piecing together the visual clues and the written word. Each work could be considered one single page in a story which the reader devises in his/her own mind. I have simplified the collage process, steering away from torn papers creating forms, to textual papers which provide narrative clues and patterns.

'The Alice Series'

'Alice'

'Queen of Hearts'

'White Rabbit'

'Mad Hatter'

'Cheshire Cat'

Collage has been an evolving process in my art making. Originally collage was a method of loosening up away from the blending methods I have used in oil painting. I love how the torn pieces of paper create their own shapes preventing a certain level of controlled precision. I am also enjoying  japanese papers which add a decorative element. The tea party was a way for the characters to engage with one another while still occupying their own space and thoughts. I am in the process of finishing two more in this series.

Inspiration

Sometimes the day begins with nothing to look forward to
and things go from bad to worse
darkness overcomes you
nobody understands
the world is a deaf machine
without sense of reason
sometimes you wait and wait and wait ...
then all your troubles come at once
wonderful things are passing you by
terrible fates are inevitable
sometimes you just don't know what you are suppose to do
or who you are meant to be
or where you are
and the day seems to end the way it began
but suddenly there it is right in front of you
bright and vivid and quietly waiting
just as you imagined it would be.
by Shaun Tan