Perspectives
Buying a Print, Backing a Bookshop
My friend tells me she often sits in the cafe opposite The Lane Bookshop in Claremont. She is sometimes there as the staff are opening for the day. Over coffee, she wills that little bookshop to be there forever, because of the warmth and charm it brings to the village. She tells me that sometimes…
Read MoreLove Letters on Canvas
A friend recently showed me a passage from Theo of Golden by Allen Levi, in which two people are discussing what makes art “good”. The artist, Asher, says: “…I guess if a work of art makes us see something familiar in a new way or makes us feel something we ought to have felt all along or…
Read MoreCommissioning a Painting: A Celebration of Life in Perth
Why Commission a Work? Often, people approach me for a commission as a form of celebration. It might be a gift for a loved one, something to grace the walls of a new or cherished home, or an expression of gratitude for the positivity of things turning out well. Many share that feeling of thanksgiving,…
Read MoreMy Winsor & Newton Ultimate Colour Palette
Last week I had a lovely visit from an Italian art dealer who recently moved to Perth. Raffaele told me that the colours I use are very comforting. I enjoyed hearing that. I loved the idea that my choice of colours could create good feelings for people. Sometimes people are curious about how many colours…
Read MoreBlue Whales in Gage Roads
For a while we had some internal doubts that Blue Whales truly roamed in Gage Roads. Despite the paintings of happy whales. Then one of our studio visitors confirmed – Blue Whales do come through Gage Roads, and they’d seen the heli-photos to prove it. So until a Cetacean expert checks in to deflate this…
Read MoreColours That Revive Us
TW77 Rottnest Waits For You by Ken Rasmussen I heard a story today about two friends catching up for dinner. One was wearing a new teal coloured jumper. The other friend leaned forward and quietly said, “Thank you for wearing that jumper. I’ve had a terrible day, and that is my most favourite colour in…
Read MoreThe Christmas Cat
The kids were still quite small when my wife won the David T. K. Wong Creative Writing Fellowship. We packed up the whole family and relocated to the UK. The children desperately wanted a pet, but these thoughts were put on hold by our travel. They had to make do with a grumpy old cat…
Read MoreHow To Surprise A Fifteen Year Old
As a 15 year-old, I wondered what my life would be like in the year 2000. I concluded that as I’d be a lot older there wouldn’t be too much excitement. How surprised that young man would be if he could see me now, in 2019. Things are so much better than I thought they…
Read MorePerth College Buys Rottnest Painting Party Island
Perth College has purchased a major painting, Party Island and I couldn’t be more thrilled. It was selected from works I exhibited at the school’s annual art show. The show was brilliantly curated. Frankly, I was impressed by everything to do with it. The art, the food and all the friendly well-dressed people. What struck…
Read MoreThe Day I Found Monet’s Easel on Gumtree
I didn’t even recognise it at first. I was just intrigued by the fact that the mechanism tilted forward rather than back. I knew that was the sign of an antique. This big old wooden cranking easel had been originally advertised on Gumtree for $250 and then finally $150. It was completely original, every single…
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