I begin with a dark ground. With acrylic, I add the light that lets a subject emerge and leave other parts unresolved. The dark space is part of the composition, not a background waiting to be filled.
This way of working grew through experimenting in my studio and years of thinking about composition as a designer. I do not begin with a required story or a particular feeling. I make the image that interests me and leave room for you to see what you see in it.
Begin with the dark
A dark ground lets me work towards light. I build the image with acrylic marks until the details I want come forward. Some features stay partly hidden or disappear into the dark.
Leave room in the image
Negative space is part of the painting. It can make an eye, face or silhouette stand out while leaving you free to form your own response.
A painting practice, not a formula
Much of my current work is monochrome, but I do not set a rule that every painting must use one palette or subject. I paint animals, people, sea creatures, unusual characters and whatever else catches my attention.
Explore the paintings
The Nightlife collection brings together Australian nocturnal animals as they appear in brief encounters, caught in a moment of light and then gone again.
Free Digital Art Book
Bring the collection into your space
A free digital Art Book walking through the stories behind the Nightlife collection, how the paintings look in real rooms, and a few simple styling tips.
Download the Free Art Book
Shop the Collection
Browse the full portfolio
Original acrylics and fine-art prints, all in one place. Find the piece that speaks to you.
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