What My Dogs Teach Me About Being and Painting

Over the past few days I have challenged myself to make this painting capturing the beautiful, fragrant flowers of the Tea Tree that is in profuse bloom in the bush behind my home in the Lower Blue Mountains.

I began the process by noticing. What I mean is that as I began my early morning walk on Tuesday, I deliberately chose to pay attention to the sights, sounds and smells of the bushland around me. I intentionally breathed deeply, settled into a rhythm and consciously opened my senses and awareness to be receptive.

It occurred to me as I watched my puppies scampering in multiple directions, chasing scents and delights invisible to my human eyes, that I could learn a lot from them. Fully engaged, completely committed and enthusiastically optimistic, my dogs live in the moment. They embrace life and love with all they are. They play rough and tumble, relishing the fun and physical challenge and then plonk down wherever they are to rest. When it comes to danger they follow their gut instincts to retreat or defend.

Like my dogs, as I walked I sought to be joyfully and wholeheartedly present. As I did this, I felt both liberated and restored. The to-do list for the week slipped away and I experienced a lightness of spirit and heart that felt life-affirming.

And then I knuckled down to work!

What you can see in this video is the result - a painting that evolved partly in the open air (en plein air) and then later in my studio.

This work doesn’t fit neatly in any of the series I have been making. It is neither one of my tree portraits nor a dense bushland image that somehow resists entry. Rather this work invites you, the viewer in. The path beckons you to enter and explore the bright bushland. The effervescence of the white blossom and the glowing yellow light seems to exude the delicious sweetness of the Tea Tree blossoms.

I hope you enjoy the video and please, as always let me know your thoughts.

This painting is one of the 22 new pictures in Realms and Ranges, my forthcoming exhibition. The show is running over two days, 2 - 3 December from 10 am to 4 pm daily, in my gallery in Blaxland. I’d love to see you there and especially for the live music, drinks and canapés on Sat 2 Dec at 4 pm.

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Also, there are a few spots left in the full-day colour workshop on Sunday 26 November, Mastering the Dynamics of Colour. This is a skill-developing workshop, where you will learn how to:

• Use coloured grounds to activate your image

• Mix a FULL range of colours using a basic palette

• Use colour mixing to make subtle changes in mood and energy in a painting

• Understand the symbolism and universal meanings of colour

• Model form and perspective with colour

• Select a colour scheme to achieve the ‘keynote of feeling’ you want in a painting

You can book for the workshop here and RSVP here for catering at the live music, drinks and canapés at the exhibition.