I've been making symmetrical images for many years now. Usually of trees, grass, leaves, ferns and clouds - you can see plenty in my Symmetry in Nature book download. Recently I have been making them much more complex by dissolving nude female figures into the composition. Here's a good example from this years's #NAF19. It's... Continue Reading →
Fractal Dryad
One of the most frustrating things about curating right through the Arts Festival is that I get a lot of inspiration but there's no time to act on it until quite a bit later. This year was no exception. Many people have commented that a lot of my pictures resemble fractals - and I agree... Continue Reading →
Summer Webs: Symmetry Exhibition, National Arts Festival 2017
One of the things I wanted in the exhibition was a small set of pictures that show off my love of harmony and beauty. The dryad series covers a whole wall and they're quite dark. So I set about shooting some much lighter pictures with clean lines that can be simply mirrored. I've combined them... Continue Reading →
Fantasy trees
A couple of weeks ago I posted this picture on Facebook. It's one of my favourite trees catching the warm sunshine: full of twisty arching shapes. At the time my good friend Harry Owen said he could see an artwork coming on .... he was right. I've managed to find some time to work with... Continue Reading →
Portals Exhibition – the catalogue
The cost of framed and print only copies are given below. All images are available in digital format at R250/image. Trees (costs do not include postage and packaging) Äsperöd Gnarly (900 x 754) R2200 framed (sold); R1350 print Äsperöd Gnarly Creature (900 x 800) R2300 framed; R1350 print Aurajoki Runic (643 x 900) R1900 framed (sold);... Continue Reading →
Almost there …. National Arts Festival 2016
The pictures are framed, the labeling's done, digital images uploaded for distribution, picture hooks, string and the rest of the exhibition paraphernalia are all just about ready to go. So I'm almost there! I'll be hanging the pictures on Tuesday 28th, with Harry Owen's assistance, and the finishing touches should be done on Wednesday. Thursday... Continue Reading →
Arena Exhibition at the Festival Gallery: Stendörren Dreamscape
The National Arts Festival sets up the Arena Exhibition as an opportunity to showcase your artwork. My problem was which piece to decide on. I settled on this dreamy looking landscape taken late last September at Stendörren Nature Reserve in Sweden. It's looking west into the sun (which all camera makers tell you never to... Continue Reading →
‘A tree sits like an avatar, an embodiment of the immutable, far beyond the pains of man.’
Nearly all of the Portals exhibition pictures are of trees. So I think a word of two of explanation is needed. Why trees and what is their significance to me? The great woodworker George Nakashima says in his book The Soul of a Tree: 'Then, when I am there, feeling at one with the trees... Continue Reading →
‘Giving a work a name is the start of letting it go, making a space to start again.’
Once I'd decided to have an exhibition I was faced with some really difficult decisions. What would I call it? What works would I put in it? What is it trying to show? Over the weeks and months I've made a lot of progress, and naming things - letting them go, making a space to... Continue Reading →
Portals Exhibition: Endless patterns
Night photography allows me to make some unusual images. I lit the forest path below Dassie Krantz with three lights and, by chance, there appeared a blue phosphorescent effect on the thorn tree. Mirroring then gave me this lovely blue portal. Further along the path you have to bend double to get through a really... Continue Reading →