studio gallery, Salamanca Arts Centre, Hobart 2018

RAINY DAY PONTVILLE 2018  40 x 40 cm on wood panel SOLD

My first impression of Pontville was windy and uninviting, how can anything grow here? The soil was full of rocks, grass that grew over a meter that was thick and you constantly were pulling the seed heads out from your socks!  The fine red soil stained and blew in everywhere.

It took some time to appreciate this environment and discover its secrets.
My friend and I looked after a small house in the middle of 5 acres in the lower midlands for 5 years.
Adjacent to the property is a native grass and wildflower reserve and below runs the Jordan river. I went for many walks and observed the colours change over the seasons. Kangaroo grass for example, when young is a fresh light green with burgundy tips, as it ages the colours turn to hues of light gold and cream, bronze and copper, eventually turning grey.

It was beautiful to observe the wildflowers from season to season and how even on the bleakest of winter days or in the windy dry hot summers, there was always something interesting going on.
Our garden and orchard brought in all types of birdlife and larger animals, visiting pademelons, hares, and eastern barred bandicoots, Tasmanian devils, blue tongue lizards, echidnas, and wombats all ventured past our front door.