Crossing a Creative Threshold with Field Sketching and Gel Printing.

Feb 1
3 min read

January was named after the roman god 'Janus' with two faces. One face looks forward, the other one looks backwards.

Hand holding two vibrant leaf artworks with yellow, blue, and pink tones on sandy ground scattered with leaves. Energetic and colorful mood.

Janus stands on the threshold, holding the past and the future in view at the same time.

It's amazing to me that I should have come across this story of Janus, at this precise moment in time in January 2026.

Because this is where I am right now with my current paintings.

I'm exploring motifs and landscapes that speak to my past and where I grew up, and Australian plants as they represent where I am now on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Queensland. My current pieces explore a fusion of these places and tell visual stories about my history.

This is a new narrative borne from early explorations of eucalypt leaves through printmaking (gel printing initially), but it's one that is settling deeper and deeper with every passing day in the studio.

It's one that will be staying for a while as I begin to understand the scope for media exploration, experimentation with materials, and potential for new colour work; looking for alignment between process and meaning.

I've never thought of my work as having a singular narrative, but this one story of relocation and voluntary displacement both from my homeland to Australia and in terms of being generally itinerant for many years, is a thread that has been ever present throughout my life, and perhaps now is the time to look at it more closely and with more depth in my creative work.

Who knows where it will all go, but I'm standing at this threshold and for sure I'll be crossing it at some point - I hope you're along for the ride!

Abstract painting with dark blue organic shapes against a textured blue and pink background, creating a dynamic and vibrant mood.

I loved spending time in the Noosa National Park, drawing from nature, being out in the bushland, and finding inspiration for my Banksia leaf drawings and lino prints.

And I've found a new spot on the shores of Lake Weyba.

It's the perfect place to spend a few hours, especially on a hot sunny day which we've had a lot of lately here in Queensland.

(I'm sending extra sunshine to those of you in chilly places!)

Shape Sketching

I've been doing some more shape sketching - there are fewer Banksias in this section of the park but quite a lot of mangroves in places along the edges of the lake and in the small creeks that flow into it.

I've been making loose sketches in oil pastel on paper prepared with collage, printing and a wash of pink acrylic.

Woman sketching by the water on a sunny day, wearing a black shirt and paint-splattered shorts. Calm mood, vibrant blue sky background.

Gel Printing

I've had my sketchbook with me as well as loose sheets of paper, along with my trusty little gel plate - perfect for capturing gel printing impressions from some reeds.

Along with the young mangroves there are a number of twisted and wind blown trees around the edge of the lake which make interesting shapes against the sky.

Open sketchbook on sandy ground, featuring abstract black-and-white prints. A red roller is beside the book. Shadowed by pine needles.

Colorful art pieces with abstract leaf and branch designs in yellow, green, and blue on a wooden table. Art supplies in background.

I'm keen to keep sketching and gathering visual information in a loose form as I work on my current paintings. I don't know yet what will find it's way from the sketches into the paintings but while I'm feeling the pull to mix my studio time with time out in the bush I'm going to go with it....and we're sure to have plenty of rainy days coming our way where I'll be hunkered down in the studio, so I'll make the most of the sunshine!

I'll pop a more detailed write up about my field sketching in my Blog soon.....

With love and happy vibes 💗