For me, I feel at peace when I’m sitting outside painting. Nestled amongst the scrub with my tools in hand - it is my happy place.

Looking out to Castle Mts, Qurindi, Liverpool Plains and Ranges, NSW Oct 2022
Photo: Ryan Jenkins

One of the questions I’m often asked is how I choose my landscapes to paint. Well, there are a few boundaries with about six various aspects in mind.

Typically it must be an adequate driving distance, an interesting landscape with special features such as a historical component, eye-catching unique flora, and a rich palette of colours and textures. Perhaps the most important thing is, the landscape must emotionally resonate with me. Art is emotion.

Across all my work, my artistic mission is to create pieces that inspire, filling people with hope and joy. If I can just get a little heavy with some art speak for a moment (promise it won't be long!), my work ultimately aims to speak to the internal wilderness we all explore during our lives (consciously or unconsciously), through the lens of a natural external landscape. Sometimes, by looking at nature and its wild landscapes, we can find answers to all our big questions. When I visit a site, I’m thinking about its history, its occupants (past and present), the behaviour of its flora and fauna, plus our interaction with the landscape. I breathe in the space. I create a moment of complete calm and stillness, allowing the landscape to speak to me. I feel its energy and hum through my body. It’s a meditative process in which I let go of any attachments.

So, when I set out to paint a new landscape, I look for a place that I can represent its soul through colour and texture. And as I said, it's vital that the place resonates with me so I can produce work which resonates with others, fulfilling my artistic mission. If it doesn’t give me hope and joy, then I probably won't be drawn to paint it.

What inspires you and brings your soul joy?

Yours in art,

Bec xx

Photos: Ryan Jenkins Photography

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“The Artist’s Landscape’ group exhibition opens March 31 at The Moree Gallery.

The small suite of work will be shown at this exhibition.
The work is based on a trip to the Liverpool Ranges and Plains in October 2022. The premise was to capture landscape around the town of Quirindi after the rain events of the year. The area had been in drought for quite some time and we were interested to witness the landscape after La Niña. The subsequent work is heavy in impasto oil paint which consequently gives a sculptural texture. The connection between landscape and humanity is conveyed through this technique. I want the paint to have a skin like texture.

I hope you enjoy the work.
Please contact Gig at the gallery for more information.
The Moree Gallery
Max Centre
30 Heber Street
Moree 2400 NSW

T 02 6752 3927 | 0427 529 116
F 02 6752 9196
E info@moreegallery.com.au

Finding My Places Of Inspiration