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budgerigars
Shy Approach Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) Size 24.5 cm x 34.6 cm Acrylic on Arches paper SOLD This painting was inspired by numerous expeditions on Stuart Highway between Darwin and Adelaide. The sky is vast, the heat interminable and the desert seems hostile to life and yet these birds can thrive. On one memorable occasion, a flock of budgerigars settled into a tree above my position in the shade as we rested near our motorbikes. Immediately, these tiny birds proved impossible to discern in the foliage as leaves rippled and twisted in the heat-shimmering breeze. Despite their incessant vocalisations, I could not see the flock in the…
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red-rumped parrots
Love on the Line Red-Rumped Parrots (Psephotus haematonotus) Size 61 cm x 30.5 cm Oil on canvas board SOLD Birds on wire is a recurring theme in my work. I find great satisfaction in the challenge of creating a truthful portrayal of the gnarled surface of old fenceposts, rusty wire and delicate plumage, not least because I draw upon the remembered sensory experience of each texture. The contrast of human-made and natural forms is very appealing. Design theory emphasises the value of contrast and harmony, and I closely consider these aspects when designing my art. I painted this pair of Red-rumped Parrots after observing…
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thank you birdlife members
Thank you to all the Birdlife Australia members who said hello and mentioned my ad in “Birdlife” magazine. The inaugural Australasian Bird Fair 2014 proved to be both an interesting and challenging experience. Interesting… due to all the fabulous people who visited the Art Marquee and exchanged stories of birdwatching experiences, and our fellow artists who were welcoming, hard working and inspiring. Challenging… due to extremely hot weather which meant guests were in danger of overheating in the marquee. Support future events like this, if you can. The preservation of birds and their habitat is a really important indication of our commitment to looking…
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australasian bird fair
I will be taking part in the inaugural Australasian Bird Fair 2014 in Sydney. Original paintings and prints will be available in the art marquee on 25 – 26 October. An opportunity to celebrate birds, encourage interest in birdwatching and conservation, and promote the preservation of bird habitats.
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anywhere anytime
Art, like any creative pursuit, requires improvisation. When I have private commissions to fulfil and I’m traveling away from my studio, I paint on any surface that can hold a palette to ensure the painting is finished on time. Usually I work on a random dining table (see photo above) if I’m staying with friends or family, with the natural flotsam of a busy home surrounding me. But I’ve made drawings and paintings using the flat surface of camping tables, rocks, car bonnets, my knee… Any surface will suffice, really. Often I work with complete focus. Even to the roaring…
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sketching on the move
Drawings made in the TGV while rushing past the yellow canola fields of France, from Paris to St Malo. I like to use Moleskine notebooks to record thoughts, impressions and quick sketches when traveling. Often these super quick sketches are just biro drawings on whatever writing surface is within reach, like a paper napkin. If I have the luxury of sitting still for an hour or so, I make a draft in pencil then finish the image using pen & ink with watercolour. Or I skip the draft and go straight to pen & ink, a medium I love. Finished sketches are ideal on postcard-size watercolour…
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birdwatching in London
I revisited old haunts in London recently, and found inspiration in springtime. If you stand and listen, the city is alive with bird calls. And not just pigeons! The landscaping of each beautiful park ensures that the natural sounds which might usually accompany fields full of daffodils haven’t been lost to commuters and tourists. It’s reassuring to know some birds are thriving here. On my way through London, I took time to visit the Mall Galleries and stand in awe of the remarkable talent manifested in the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours exhibition. Considerable thought had gone into the layout and presentation of…
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road trip
My paintings are influenced by scenes observed from life. Every year, I travel interstate to experience different places, sometimes new or significant, usually mixed with some old favourites. I go birdwatching with binoculars, camera and sketchbook. When time permits, I set up my easel and paint. Some of my best, most inspirational ideas happen when traveling. Black-shouldered kite settling on a fencepost, cockatiels in flight, mulga parrots sheltering from the midday heat, a striated pardalote singing from an abandoned railway siding… These visions stay in my mind, slowly coalescing into a formal painting. Often I will raid my old sketchbooks…
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private commission: willie wagtails
Art is very personal. Each painting has its own symbolism and inspiration. A private commission can be imbued with deep meaning, depending on the client’s story, and this I always respect. My first overseas commission for a client in Switzerland occurred when I lived in Kakadu National Park after graduating from a Bachelor of Design with Honours, University of South Australia. The client required a family member to act as interpreter and the cost of phone calls at that time was exorbitant. Several decades later, I have fulfilled many private commissions and sales to clients in the United Kingdom, Italy, Kuwait,…
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sand dunes
Getting up close and personal with subjects is both inspirational and instructional. I lived in Coffin Bay National Park as a child and revisited this iconic peninsula in the summer of 2013. Walking barefoot in the sand, taking photographs for reference and closely observing dune vegetation and the wider landscape assists me to experience ‘place’ in rich detail. So that when I need to paint native plants that thrive in a dune environment, I have sensory memories that enable me to recall their colour, texture, the way they move in the breeze, how the sand shifts around their stems. Even…
Dr Megan Spiers 