Oil on linen. 91 × 122 cm
‘Sugar Cane Fire 1 and 2
These paintings are another example of fire making an appearance in my work. As a child growing up in the inland of Australia I was very familiar with the smell, sight and taste of fire in the landscape-also the pleasure of camp fires. Fires to me convey multiple emotions ranging from intense interest; exhilaration; trepidation; fear; sadness and wonder. They can have a mesmerising feeling, but a cane fire can be one of the most ferocious of all. For a time, I lived next to a sugar farm and the roar and power of ‘a burn’ left a lasting deep impression. Here I made multiple transparent washes to enrich the darkness before adding the flames.
