Moments That Make the Work : ‘Mountain Songs’ 2021

The sun sets in the west, casting long blue shadows through the tall grass. Golden hour begins. Light catches on cobwebs laced through the eucalypts. Cicadas sing in my ears, and I spot a wedge-tailed eagle circling nearby.

It must be my favourite time of day. Golden rays backlight the sharp grasses piercing the tall gums perched on the ridge. The view is vast and expansive. In that moment, I feel small—ant-like—compared to the sprawling plains ahead.

The distant Barringtons colour the horizon in soft lavenders and cornflower blues. The air is thick with humidity—it's been a hot, wet summer. I admire the foliage and its quiet regeneration after last year’s fires. Charcoal stubs still dot the land, reminders of recent history.

A lofty eucalyptus offers relief from the fierce Australian sun, but I soak up the warmth, lizard-like. Summer must be my favourite season. The heat, the light, the long days—all stir excitement and a wondrous sense of anticipation for fun and adventure.

Ants make their way into my jeans, creating a brief, itchy distraction from the view—and my painting. I don’t mind. It’s part of the experience. Insects, animals, spiky foliage—they become the work. I step away from being “the artist” and let Nature take over.

I choose colours intuitively. I don’t think—I simply let the brush lead. It selects the palette and moves as it pleases. I’m just the channel.

I feel blissfully alone on this craggy outpost. It's both confronting and surprisingly uplifting. The dangers feel alluring. There’s something strangely comforting about being all the way up here, on the edge of everything.

Yours in art,
Bec xoxo

Mountain Songs Exhibition
Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre
Concludes June 25, 2021
Price list available – please contact the gallery.