Artists Blog

“If you go down to the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise….”

As I came up to the metre wide trunk of this tree, I wondered where the other half of the resident was - the pointy half.

Tip-toeing quietly around the tree trunk, (which was perched on a steep slope above a very rocky creek bed some metres below), I found this:

One ex-wallaby and a very satisfied Scrubby (Amethystine Python).

That’s dinner taken care of for the next 6 months or so. Would that be considered yo-yo dieting?

Can you guess what this is?

Clue: it’s in a bucket as it’s not too friendly. And it can kill you.

Yes, it’s a Northern Death Adder for those of you that know your snakes. Sorry this photo is a bit blurry, but as I put my camera (and hand!) into the bucket, it showed me an unhappy glare of it’s eye (that black dot in the middle) and I went a bit wobbly.

Happily sunning himself in a spot with lots of people was not a good situation for anyone, so the Relocation Bucket was called in to assist with a move to a less populated area.

Continuing with the reptilian theme, the cheeky (but lazy) Lace Monitor half heartedly climbed a gum when it saw me. It is easily my height from snout to tail tip, but is a scaredy cat at heart. I walked right up to him, and he flattened his face against the trunk as if to say “I’m invisible now, so you’ll forget you ever saw me and go away”.

He has his lovely new skin now, after leaving shreds and tatters of the old one everywhere. I’ve kept some of it ( think Goldmember peeling his skin in Austin Powers - “That’s a keeper!”), and it’s just like pieces of elastic bubblewrap.

Anyway, enough of the Animal Antics for a while (even though I have so many more photos and tales of them!). New subject matter for tomorrow!

As mentioned in my previous post, Australia Day was spent deep in the Rainforest, in the shadow of beautiful Red Peak Mountain. Our gorgeous hosts Sylvia and Pete host an all-out BBQ brekkie on the deck of their rainforest home, overlooking the crystal clear Stony Creek. With toes dipped in the gurgling waters, you imagine you are lost in the wilderness, far far from anywhere civilised.

The whole rainforest feels old, and you almost want to whisper your conversations.

It was such a simple pleasure, sitting atop a rock, letting feet drift in the cool current.

Curious visitors attracted by the intrusion of feet appeared. See how many you can spot in the next photo.

These are Flag Tailed Grunters, apparently quite a pugnacious fish. They were perfectly genteel on this occasion.

 Even Jez (who’s not a fan of fish near his feet) felt relaxed in the “pirahna” infested waters.

I really loved the tangledness of everything. Roots and branches everywhere seemed entwined with each other.

Although with rainforest comes the inhabitants. You may have heard the story in the media recently of the Golden Orb Spider than caught a bird in it’s web and devoured it up here. Our hosts have one happily living next to their back deck.

Pete (in respendent Green & Gold), stands in front of his friend. If he stood behind it, it would easily be the size of his face.

Sorry for the blurriness of this photo - I wasn’t too keen to get really close. You will notice the LONG red fangs, and the beautiful golden colour of it’s web.

As I type this a gentle rain is falling. Not the pounding, drenching monsoon rain, but something soft and sleep inducing. I hope all of you in the south are faring well in the heat wave. 45.7C in Adelaide today. That’s 114F+. Think cool thoughts everyone.

How could I forget our 1 year anniversary of teleporting up here to the Tropics? Don’t know how, but I did.

Just over a year ago this behemoth was pulling away from our kerb, en route to the rainforest….

What a year it’s been!

I’m so lucky to be living where I do. In our last home we had “delightful” children living behind us that hurled rocks into our pool. Surburbia at it’s most uninspiring.

Living here, I sometimes take the bush for granted, and forget that a whole other world exists beyond the wooden palings. This morning a tiny movement caught my eye. Can you see it?

Moving through the dappled sunlight two brand new babies moved with their mum and dad.

During the day these Bush Stone Curlews (or Thick Knees) are usually very, very   q-u-i-e-t.   At night it’s totally another matter. They are screaming, wailing banshees, with blood curdling cries of ear drum piercing proportions.

Those great golden eyes don’t miss much. Spot one of the chicks?

Just gorgeous! And they don’t throw rocks.

It’s been a while since my post - so much happening it’s like someone has cranked up the speed on the merry go round!

The final night of the “BIG exhibition” was last Friday, with the top 10 artworks (in terms of bids), going to a final  live floor auction. I held little hope of making it out of the 120 established artists exhibiting. It was expected of course that the famous names, Archibald winners etc would make up the 10. This was the last few minutes before the deadline that people could still silently bid.

I was nervous, sweaty palmed and rather anxious. I told Jeff that I didn’t want to be in the live auction - how embarrassing if no one bid on my work? I looked over to my piece and saw someone on their mobile, staring right at my work. They took a pen out and wrote in a new bid. Phone bids? I was shocked. Then someone else came over and upped the bid. Shock was replaced with open mouthed disbelief.

Jeff and I were volunteers on the night to hold The Ribbon. Once the bell is rung, a ribbon goes up across the works on the wall so no more bids can be placed. In past years, this was the time when people would try and sneak in bids in an effort to get their chosen piece. Sometimes fisticuffs were involved I was told. All quite civilised tonight.

Then I was told that I had made the top 10. I was horrified. I could hardly think straight whilst other peices were auctioned. When it was my turn I wanted to leave. What if it was passed in at the final silent bid price? The embarrassment would swallow me whole.

I couldn’t believe it when there was one bid, then another, and another…. was this really for my work? (can you tell I was having a hard time believing any of this?) I would’ve taken photos of the lively auctioneer, with hammer banging down so decisively, except I was rooted to the spot with fear.

Anyway, my first piece sold ever, 20+ years after I was supposed to go to Art College to train to be an artist. Better late than never ever ever.

The biggest thrill for me was to have my work cheek-by-jowl with the big names of the art world from the past 50 years. All of us on the same auction table.

Pressure’s on now. A commission for someone and other exhibitions soon. This is where I would have traditionally run away screaming. I’ve a different mindset now.

A big exhibtion at the Regional Gallery is on next month. Closing date for entries was yesterday. I made it with 18 minutes to spare, thanks to 3 am finishes on the weekend.

Sooo, what else has been happening apart from my art dramas?

“Spring” (30 degrees C), has meant that all manner of critters are out and about. Finally caught the backyard bandicoot bandit on camera. Big bugger too. Our backyard is filled with bandicoot potholes. They dig cone shaped holes through the lawn to catch cane beetles. This one likes to dig up pebbles. Beside each massive crater is a smooth round pebble or pile of pebbles. He’s OCD for sure.

They are riddled with ticks (especially the deadly Paralysis Tick),  so don’t let them in the house.

(I’m looking out the window at the moment and the scrub hens have wandered in, helping themselves to my garden, scratching up anything in their way. Typing quietly here…..)

I took a shortcut through Uni the other day, through the bush and dry creek bed that was a raging torrent just 6 short months ago.

Someone had created a lovely sculpture made from the riverbed pebbles.

The stones had such beautiful patterns carved by years of rushing water. Soon enough they will be covered again for another Wet Season.

There was a huge vine snaking it’s way across the creek. I immediately thought of the snake warning in the news. They are out and about and on the move.I followed the vine up the bank where it twisted itself into pretzel shaped knots.

So much more to do, I’m really looking forward to Uni finishing so that I can catch my breath.

Tomorrow is my 6 minute speech /reading - simply terrifying!

It’s been overcast, drizzly and HOT. Steamy like a Costa Rican jungle. Not that I’ve ever been in a Costa Rican jungle, but I almost feel as if I need a machete to cut through the air, it’s so thick.

My Mountain is in there somewhere….

Uni today was using cameras in different ways. I’ve used my telephoto lens as a macro lens for these  luscious red berries. Like bunches of miniature pomegranates.

“Spring” in the tropics has unleashed all manner of triffid-like growth with berries and blooms.

My lecturer told me today that he saw my photo in the weekend newspaper - all news to me as I didn’t bother with the papers this weekend. I did hunt a copy down this afternoon.

The competition has now closed, and judging begins. No cash prizes, but a chance to have your work printed in some limited edition posters.

Back now to the drudgery of homework…..

Friday - painting class - continuing our adventures with “oil glazing”. A tiny dab of oil paint  is mixed with fast drying Liquol to produce a thin layer (a glaze) of paint. Many layers of glaze later you have a transparent sheen of paint that looks luminous. Well, that’s the theory anyway.

For many, including myself, it’s our first introduction to oil painting, and a whole new experience. Next week we go hard and thick with the oils with impasto techniques.

This afternoon there was a loud BANG on the kitchen window. The Man of the House had only cleaned the window recently and it had repercussions.

A teenage Chestnut Breasted Mannikin (or Bullfinch?) was not happy with his close encounter. A good excuse to have dirty windows!

(Don’t look at the oil paint under my fingernails).

He didn’t seem to want to fly anywhere, so I popped him in a tree out back. 20 minutes later he was right to join all his mates again.

Peaceful Dove trying to be inconspicuous.

Like all his friends.

Meanwhile, the Bromeliads and gingers are putting on a flamboyant display. Almost like Mardi Gras!

Smoke blankets everything. They are Helicopter firebombing again with self igniting pellets over the mountain slopes. It’s a combined controlled undergrowth burn with bushfire  simulation involving several goverment depts.

Fire starters: The plastic balls dropped from helicopters to spark fires in hilly terrain.  - Courtesy Cairns Post

Can you spot the shiny helicopter in the photo below?

They were flying through such thick smoke clouds that they disappeared frequently.

Noty many people are happy with the situation. Doors and windows have to be shut tight, but the choking smoke still finds its way in.  My neighbour is having asthma attacks and everyone’s washing smells like cigarettes.

Still, we’re not as badly off as this family’s home. Even the helio was hanging around them, just in case the wind changed….

Here’s hoping for clear skies again soon.

Helicopters were firebombing today. “Bombs away” and the mountains were ablaze. 

Quite mesmerising watching that curling smoke.

Orange flames snaked their way downwards. In the twilight the mountains glowed a gorgeous orange against the darkening sky. No camera for that one sorry, but you can imagine how lovely it looked.

Busy, busy again, a longer post tomorrow I promise. I have to find my mortar & pestle - an email from Uni requesting I bring one next week, very exciting.