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Convection [the physics of art]

Jan 18, 2018
2 min

Convection [the physics of art]

Convection, conduction, radiation, what is the difference? Tip: it is about the arts of physic ... or the physics of art, depending if you are a mechanical engineer like my partner (who asked the question when he obviously already knew the answer) or an artist like me (who had no clue). (image from the net, no credit available) These three words refer all to heat transfer, and in the case of the sun, they are so large and powerful that the heat literally irrupts like lava. Tr

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Cabochan [painting gemstones]

Jan 12, 2018
1 min

Cabochan [painting gemstones]

Cabochan is a French word which stands for a gemstone that has been shaped and polished rather than faceted. The name is perfectly suited to this artwork that I was painted during my residency with the Great Alpine Gallery last August. I was collecting river stones to look at their formation, the shapes and patterns trapped in their rocky flesh. Chinese calligraphers call it the art of reading stone (click on the highlighted text to read the short blurb I wrote about it) The

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Microcosm: night sky trapped in a rock [painting]

Jan 5, 2018
2 min

Microcosm: night sky trapped in a rock [painting]

Microcosm was not going to make the cut. I found a river rock with a night sky trapped in it and, inspired by my recent readings about Chinese calligraphers, I wanted to show how a macroscopic element can represent something as vast as a night sky. That is how much I knew about the final 'look' of my painting before getting my brushes out. I painted the mineral sky ... going back on it a few times, without success. It was there, floating in the white of the watercolour paper,

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77 days before opening night [Calling for Rain]

Dec 29, 2017
2 min

77 days before opening night [Calling for Rain]

I received recently a series of inquiries about my project Calling for Rain. This post explains what this project is about and where I am at 77 days away from the opening of the exhibition. So, what is it? Following the recent drought and risks of summer fires, Calling for Rain is an art and cathartic project that support the East Gippsland community while it faces high environmental anxiety. Last August, I ran a series of workshops in the Tambo Valley and it was an eye opene

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What do Finns get to do in East Gippsland?

Dec 22, 2017
2 min

What do Finns get to do in East Gippsland?

A few weeks ago, I talked to Maureen Shepherd from Fairfield Finns, known by all craft and wool enthusiasts as the unmissable Bullengarook's finn sheep farm in Victoria. These small sheep, originally from Finland, make some luscious wool. In your hands, it feels like a white cloud on a breezy day. Maureen generously supports my project Calling for Rain. She has given some free wool for the East Gippsland's community workshops that I will be running in March next year... and w

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On the power of art

Dec 2, 2017
1 min

On the power of art

You will have noticed that I have been sharing a few testimonials of what it was like for East Gippslanders to attend the workshops I led last August during my residency in Swifts Creek. When receiving the videos, I was holding my breath each time I was listening to people kind and meaningful words. Each single person has been so inspiring to watch. It might not seem much, but this is what art has the power to do: touching your life at a place you don't expect it. For some it

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Portrait study or getting to know your model

Nov 25, 2017
1 min

Portrait study or getting to know your model

I have heard many people saying that being able to imitate a photography, by drawing, to the perfection, is "talent". This comment always makes me jump. Anyone can draw exactly like an already existing picture. Itis a simple technique. Google it, I am sure there are many tutorials out there. Copying doesn't require much talent. It is just a question of a good eye for detail and a bit of patience. What does take talent though, is the capacity of an artist to show with depth ho

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12 portraits of East Gippslanders, what if one was yours?

Nov 21, 2017
2 min

12 portraits of East Gippslanders, what if one was yours?

12 huge portraits of East Gippslanders (2.20m high by 1.50m large) will be exhibited in East Gippsland Art Gallery in March next year. 6 of them will hang by the windows and will look at the passers by in Nicholson street, the other 6 will look at the visitors inside the gallery. The portraits will be painted using Chinese ink on multiple paper panels and the end result will look a bit like this. I am currently working on the portrait of a fantastic woman I have met during my

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exorcism and white dress, what's in it?

Nov 3, 2017
1 min

exorcism and white dress, what's in it?

The Costume Research in Australasia conference is taking place from the 14-15/11 at the Graduate School Centre for Contemporary Performance Ideas, at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA), here in Sydney. More about it HERE I have been invited to talk about my 'white dresses' and since I have been making them for the last 4 years or so, I thought I'll focus on the evolution of these recurring and ritualistic objects in my practice. You can see the different projects

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Back on the Great Alpine road

Oct 27, 2017
1 min

Back on the Great Alpine road

For the last 2 months, I have been compiling, editing, adding, removing, organising pictures of my paintings and poems I have worked on during my residency at Swifts Creek last August. A book of almost 80 pages is nicely coming together. It will go out for peer review next Wednesday and I expect to have to modify a few things: this is my first book ever! I have gathered my work inspired by the art of stone reading, the harsh climate and burnt tree bark. I have spent much time

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Heart, you have no house

Sep 1, 2017
1 min

Heart, you have no house

This lonely heart poem is from American poet Theodore Roethke. I found one of his poetry collection in the streets of New York a few months ago and it has followed me all the way to Swifts Creek, in rural Victoria. My friend Juli, who has been a fervent supporter of my art, chose as part of her pledge for my kickstarter campaign, this following quote for me to work on: Outside the frost sparkling Along the edge of the chair, Close to cypress frames, On the black wooden fences

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Cloud roots or the art of reading stones

Aug 25, 2017
1 min

Cloud roots or the art of reading stones

Going on an art residency is supposed to be the start of a great adventure, so I have heard, not an end in itself. My great adventure has started a few days ago when I left Sydney to go to Swift Creeks, a one pub town in the Tambo Valley. Look at a map of East Gippsland, and it's right there, lost in the middle of the mountains. The climate is harsh, especially this winter, as it has hardly rained. The bed of the river is wide and rocky, with a few pockets of quiet waters hid

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