Category: inspiration
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black-shouldered kite
To Observe with a Steady Gaze Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris) Size 25.5 cm x 30.5 cm (10 in x 12 in) Oil on raw linen, stretched, unframed SOLD This painting was inspired by several Black-shouldered Kites that I observed hunting along the Sturt Highway, Hay Plain. The birds perch on fenceposts and anything vertical as they search for…
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laughing kookaburra
Peaceful to Behold Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) Size 14 cm x 16 cm Acrylic on Arches paper SOLD A private commission reflecting the deep, sentimental appreciation for kookaburras felt by the client’s wife and her family. Background landscape references for this painting were completed while camping in Mount Kaputar National Park, New South Wales. I grew up listening to the…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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’…
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sunbird
Detail of female Yellow-bellied Sunbird in flight, part of an acrylic painting on stretched canvas. Painted after observing the challenges overcome by a pair of Sunbirds in far north Queensland, who rebuilt their nest after a first attempt was destroyed by predators at night, along with the eggs. Within twenty-four hours, they had chosen a…
Dr Megan Spiers 