;Daisy Days ~ An Expression of Personal Power.

The horse is a powerhouse of perfect balance. She contains huge reservoirs of high voltage energy, which idles gently beneath her glistening chrome~sheen coat. Her expression of that energy, and release of it, can be so fine tuned as to carry daisy chains gently afloat in her dancing mane, while rippling muscle and taut sinew coil in a dance of their own.
As always one of  the gifts animals offer to us is to see ourselves reflected in their eyes.
If I can strive to express my own personal and spiritual power in such a balanced way as this, without aggression or arrogance, with rhythm and grace and just enough boldness, then I have honoured the horse and learned his lesson.
"Daisy Days"

Voyager Unicorn aceo

A recurring image from my dreams. The solitary unicorn, sailing the oceans on a sturdy vessel. An albatross flies as a guide for the beautiful horned horse. This aceo sold on ebay a few weeks ago, and I now want to paint a series of voyager unicorns! 💛

SOLD

'Firm Foundations' Graphite 16" x 20"

I live in one of the earliest settlements in Australia, the Hawkesbury River region. Governor Lachlan Macquarie was Sydney's first Governor, ordering and supervising the creation of buildings such as the first Barracks stables which still stands as the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. The Hawkesbury Regional Gallery's current Exhibition commemorates his BiCentennary.
For the past three months every spare minute (few though they seem to be!) has been spent actually IN this drawing! I feel as though I have been wandering the stables behind the Domain, hearing the shouts of men as they saddle their horses before riding the dirt roads of Sydney town 1810, and seeing the horrific conditions the early convicts who built this city had to endure. I know the heat and dust and flies.. I smell the incredible sea salt air of Sydney Harbour on a Spring day and hear those sea birds wheel and soar high in our beautiful cerulean sky.. Those horses who were shipped across the ocean to live here (months spent sailing away from the cool green of England) surely deserve a memorial to their struggle to adapt to this land, to temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius (100F).
I drew an Arabian mare as tribute to the Endurance horses who now bring fame to the Sydney through to Hunter region, with the lower Blue Mountains being some of the best Endurance country in the World!
Private Collection.

The Lacemakers, Watercolour

In November / December, I showed steps in the creation of 'The Lacemakers'. I began the piece as a learning process, (rather than with the intention of selling)~ combining transparent watercolours over the graphite drawing. I have had mixed feelings about the results, thinking I am losing some of the delicacy of the graphite, while knowing (with the coaching of a dear friend and amazing artist) that colour has it's own magic! But as with all learning curves, they take on their own life, carrying us forward on journeys which are their own Reward! "THE LACEMAKERS" almost "finished":

Walking in Faith

When I paint without a vision of where I'm headed, when I allow colour and water and feeling to carry me into the creation process that just "is", then paintings such as this one are born.

Surrounded by the haunting, meditational light of the knowing Moon, she steps the glowing waters in confidence and faith. Eyes are open, every muscle relaxed, no fear exists in her steps on the uncharted path.
When fear, hesitation, uncertainty hold us back from being strong and moving forward, just one trusting step at a time, with heart wide open, is all that is needed.

Graphite Study "Egypt" Features in Egyptian Horse Times!

Earlier this year I was given the opportunity to create a special piece of art for Egypt's official Equestrian Magazine 'Horse Times.' As I type this, the original drawing, measuring 55cm x 65 cm, is in the air en route to Cairo! The image was given a full page in the Spring Edition, alongside my idol Monty Roberts and Olympic Equestrian athletes.

Thank you to magazine Editor Nada Abdelmoniem, and Chairman Khaled Assem.