We all have that one mate. The one who hears a tiny piece of gossip and immediately acts like the world is ending. The one who sees a leaf move in the wind and declares it a near-death experience. They have zero volume control and absolutely zero chill. Meet All Talker, a frilled-neck lizard with a big frill, a bigger mouth, and a desperate need for you to know exactly how dramatic his evening has been.
When I sat down to paint this piece for my Nightlife collection, I knew exactly who I was channelling.
The Inspiration Behind the Piece
The frilled-neck lizard is one of Australia’s most spectacular creatures, but let’s be honest, the frill isn’t a fashion statement. It’s a panic button. When he feels threatened, he doesn’t fight. He doesn’t run. He throws open that massive, ridiculous frill, opens his mouth as wide as it will go, and puts on a spectacular show, hoping you’re impressed enough to back off.
It is such a human survival tactic. Overcompensate. Make a scene. Pray nobody looks close enough to realise you are actually terrified.
I wanted this piece to capture that exact energy. The sheer audacity of looking absolutely terrifying while being completely harmless underneath. By putting this lizard in stark, brilliant white against an inky black void, I stripped away the comedy and gave him a quiet, theatrical gravitas. He looks like he is mid-speech, mid-panic, and mid-dramatic revelation.
The Creative Process: Building the Void, Then Bringing in the Light
For the Nightlife collection, the process begins long before I pick up a white brush. I work exclusively on A3 paper, but I don’t start on blank white space, I build the darkness first.
Laying the Foundation: I begin by coating the A3 paper with a thick layer of grey gesso. Once that dries, I add a second heavy coat of black gesso. I don’t smooth it out perfectly; I use deliberate brushstrokes to leave a gritty, raw texture in the background. This “roughness” is what gives the finished piece its depth when the white acrylic catches the light later on.
The Midnight Sketch: Once the black gesso is fully set, I don’t use a pencil. I grab a piece of chalk or a white charcoal pencil and sketch directly onto the dark, textured surface. Just loose, luminous outlines mapping out that spectacular, fan-like frill, the wide-open mouth, and the sharp little eyes that are desperately trying to look intimidating.
The Dry-Brush Build: The magic happens when I begin laying down the pure white and soft shades of black acrylics. I work with both dry and wet brush techniques, letting the grain of the black gesso underneath show through the lighter shades. I build the form slowly, focusing on capturing the layered texture of the frill, the sharp contours of his wide-open jaw, and that tiny, unblinking eye, loving the simplicity and challenge of using only black and white to define the shadows and highlights.
The Eyes: As with every piece in my portfolio, I leave the eyes for last. A single pinpoint of white catchlight against the deep black pupil gives this overdramatic performer his soulful, knowing gaze. He is mid-speech, mid-panic, and completely convinced he is the star of the show.
Bringing “All Talker” Into Your Space
Because of its stark, minimalist design and textured background, “All Talker” works beautifully in a hallway, a home office, or a kid’s room that needs a bit of theatrical flair. The bright white frill pops vividly against both dark charcoal and bright cream walls, making it a versatile statement piece for anyone who loves a bit of drama.
If this dramatic lizard speaks to your own inner performer, you can view the original A3 acrylic painting or grab a fine-art print in the Nightlife collection.
