Water water everywhere and not a drop to drink ...

... there are many things about Melbourne I am loving but proximity to the beaches is not one of them - Surf beaches that is, port or harbour beaches barely make it as water ways and I'm sorry to say that Balmoral has it all over St Kilda in the waterworks stakes - hands down, storm drains and all.

It would be honest to say that I've been spoiled for beaches in the past living in Sydney and holidaying on the far north coast of NSW, absolutely spoiled rotten!!! Queensland beaches are 'in' with a good chance but if you go too far north you hit 'stingers', mangroves and grey tidal mud becasue you see, it's all a combination of sun, surf'n'sand and there are pretty much only two states that can offer a decent combo of all three ... which is why this second(or rather my first) painting happened - Bunbury Beach WA at sunset - the water was this intense green and the ocean itself to overflowing, so heavy and cold and with a depth reminiscent of myth & lengend. Well it did when I photographed it at last light, last April.

The painting, though in reality it's not nearly as dark as this jpg (the better .pdf file just wouldn't load), is not a patch on reality and irksomely reminds me of those icky Baliness 'student' paintings people were pestered with door to door in the late 70's - it kind of has this almost 'flock'(spelling?) look to it don't you agree .... but it's posted here because it reminds me of how much I've loved Tuesday nights this year and the lovely and talented people I enjoy painting beside.

Sunday Too Far Away

... and I'm not even a shearer, but it's in keeping with my latest painting and it works with the fact that it's only Wednesday.

I'm doing this one for a friend who lives over in the west and who's battling to keep the family farm actually in the family. Bugg*r is that various plagues have been sent to slay her and I'd reckon if you count back the generations she may well be descended from Job.

Hoping this may cheer her up - may be an incy bit. Of course the painting still has a way to go yet, shadow, detail and much, much more, in fact one tree is completely missing, but will hopefully getto her by about Easter as a late seasonal gift.

It's mainly being painted for the memory of the middle hound, a dog of gentle though manic disposition who sadly took on the wrong end of a visitors ute in late April this year and lost the argument rather permanently.



R.I.P "Didge" ...