First came fire, then came flood….

It’s only a week to go until We have to hang the exhibition. Eeek! and Hurrah! and Arghhhhhh! and Oh Lord, what if I don’t even sell one painting, and Ahhh – at least once all the paintings are out of the house I’ll have some more room in my studio to make new works. We’re all carefully tripping around them at the moment. At least Zara has passed the stage where she wants to meaningfully contribute to a finished painting. Last year I had a few last minute repair jobs before shows where someone little came along with a pen or chalk and ‘helped’. It was very stressful.

Above is my new work. In my part of Australia we had weeks and weeks of bushfires raging out of control. Devastating on land, and forest, wildlife, and domestic animals too. The smoke was heavy in the air even in the city (which was quite a long way from the fires), and many people were suffering badly from Asthma. There hasn’t been much in the news about the long term effects of that sustained exposure to smoke. I’ve certainly never seen anything like it in my lifetime.

The smoke was very beautiful too though. I drove to my very dear Aunt and Uncle’s house one smoky morning to stay for a few days. The view off to the distance was mesmerising. Trees in a myriad of greys and lavendars. Hard to capture. I’ve got a few works on the go at the moment – trying to capture this unreal other-world we’ve all inhabited lately.

It’s been hot, and dry, and dangerous, and then the rain came. Too much of it in some parts. Luckily no flood yet, but it’s often the way with nature isn’t it. It was fantastically refreshing though – pulled the soke out of the air, left everything clean. Magic.