"Just over the fence" was a
commissioned oil by a farmer friend of mine who has collected my work
over the years.
It is a painting of his own farm on
the Kaipara Harbour, just north of Auckland on the west coast. The west
coast around Auckland offers some stunning scenery as you can see by the
painting. The light is ever-changing and, by its very nature, the area
always hints at the raw force that the elements have the potential
to throw at you. This is an exhilarating source of inspiration.
The day I took this painting in to
get it framed I happened to find out from one of the frame-shop
assistants that her daughter was an immediate neighbour of the person
who commissioned the painting. Apparently it was not that long ago that
a tornado ripped through there and took the roof off her house.
I have never yet had an exhibition
of my work and so I have not yet experienced a wider public response to
my work. It has just worked out that way so far. People buy my work
because they like it and that does me. However it was a humbling
experience the day I took this painting in for framing. There were a
number of staff and public in the shop at the time and I was even a
little startled at the degree of praise given the painting by those who
saw it. Of course the internet is no way of being able to truly
appreciate artwork, but I hope this facsimile of the work gives you some
idea.
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