Tag: artist at work
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story as art
Whenever someone says to me, “I’m so not creative” or “I haven’t got a creative bone in my body” as happened again recently, I wonder how that narrative first emerges in a person’s mind and why it takes such hold in the stories they tell about themselves. In life, we all make creative choices every…
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sketching pixie
Sketching a tree is fairly straightforward. Other subjects can be more difficult. Pixie was a very obliging subject, dozing in the late summer afternoon following a hard day’s work hauling a gypsy wagon along country roads in farmland near Bendigo, Victoria. I haven’t turned these sketches into a painting but I might one day. Sometimes the…
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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’…
Dr Megan Spiers 