"Still Life with Dove and Light-Matter Interaction" Drawing

I am an Australian painter and graphic artist working in acrylics, enamels, pen and ink. I studied painting, drawing and print making at the Victorian College of the Arts (Melbourne) from 1979 - 81, with a major in painting. After graduation I set up my studio and began painting, while teaching art part-time in a community arts centre. Between 1992-98 I studied art history at the University of Melbourne and, as a PhD student, I worked in Rome, Paris and Copenhagen. In late 1998 I began working as an art librarian at the University of Melbourne. This was my day job for twenty years, while I continued to keep a studio and work on paintings and graphic works. I retired from library work in 2017 and have since been working full time in my studio. My work is held in private collections in San Francisco, Melbourne, Hobart and Launceston. My principle theme is art within art. I began this approach in 1985, using synthetic cubism as a springboard for my compositions. I like to juxtapose abstract and representational forms, patterns and symbols, to create multi-layered allusions to contemporary ideas and art-historical contexts. Ultimately, I think it is important to correlate my work with the art of the past and contemporary frames of reference. Most recently, I have been exploring the connections and interactions between art, science and religion. The main influences on my work are: Vermeer, Magritte, Picasso, Matisse, Japanese ukiyo-e prints, and aspects of contemporary Australian painting.