Tag: painting
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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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hmas adelaide commission
Presenting commissioned art to HMAS Adelaide From birds to ships! When the Ship’s Welfare Committee commissioned an original painting to showcase HMAS Adelaide’s capabilities as a Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ship, I was thrilled. I have painted ships before but not quite at this scale so I was absolutely determined to enjoy the whole experience. I…
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pink robin
Splendid Pink Robin (Petroica rodinogaster) Size 13.5 cm x 11.5 cm Mixed media on Arches paper SOLD This painting formed part of a triptych of Australian robins, including Eastern Yellow Robin, Red-capped Robin and Pink Robin. It was especially commissioned by clients who had purchased the original diptych at exhibition and needed a third robin to balance…
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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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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…
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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…
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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 