The coastal steam ship, John Oxley (1927), is on the floating
Heritage Dock
undergoing major restoration. Donning a hard hat, climbing up the
scaffolding to board
this vessel and walking through the deteriorating
compartments of the John Oxley
gave
me an insight into how magnificent this steamer once was and will eventually be
again. Small details instantly caught my eye and imagination. In my artistic
practice, much of
my work is aimed at highlighting the beauty all around us that
often goes unnoticed
in the busyness of our lives. I found much fuel for
inspiration here.
During this pause in construction, painting there and then on board John Oxley
was not an option, so I relied on taking quick photographs to record
the images that made a visual and emotional impression on me.
I worked from these reference photos and my personal experience back home in the studio.
An open porthole with cracked glass transported me to a
different time and place.
I empathised with all sailors who travel far from
home and miss their loved ones
and imagined them being on the open sea and
thinking of
their wives and children who were waiting for their return.
That
inspired me to paint “Thinking of You”. Looking through the porthole,
I painted
a view of the open ocean instead of the current reality of the shipyard
setting.
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| Thinking of You |