What does it mean to belong? Beginning on Tamborine Mountain and following the remarkable migration of the Eastern Curlew, this month's Studio Journal reflects on community, stewardship and the reciprocal relationship between people and the places that shape them.

While painting a panorama of Lake Argyle, I found myself thinking about rivers, memory and the stories that lie beneath the visible surface. This reflection explores landscape, engineering, history and the challenge of holding complexity within a single work.

Post Script to interview ‘Taking Steps, an artists journey with Parkinsons.

Hubris and things that press my buttons.

I wonder if humans of planet earth were a collection of an alien planet, what would be in that collection and what would it say about us?

I have been in many artists studios across Australia and around the world. Some are grand and some are modest. I have come to realise that space dictates a lot of how the work comes out.

This art life on the road- Musings on overcoming comfort zones, climbing mountains, grief trauma and healing.

19 weeks in on a 6 month road trip tracing Australia, we turn the corner of the Western Australia coast and begin to head east.

This month we travelled from the Kimberly to the Pilbara. Spinifex, red dirt, deep gorges- a land of great beauty as well as iron ore trains, massive ships coming in and out of ports, towns dependant and built on mining $, and complex infrastructure. This is extractive Australia.

notes on camping… thoughts from Broome after 8 weeks on the road.

Boab trees of the Kimberley Western Australia….gentle giants observing the tides of change

Meliorist on the move- 6 months on the road tracing Australia.

Ponderings on the nature of impermanence.

Musings during a 15 day stay at the property Ahimsa once home to environmentalist, lawyer, feminist and Buddhist Marie Byles. Researching Marie’s life, walking where she walked and following connections with author Gillian Mears who was also inspired by this woman. 31 Jan- 14th Feb 2024

a conversation we need to have

January 26 sits uncomfortably with me as a celebration of what Australia is today. I cannot partition it from its roots-(and those are also my roots) the advantages I have from the displacement of others. I cannot be proud of the condoned act of piracy. I cannot buy in to a One Nation under one flag ideology.

On Xmas night as we sat drinking champagne, full from too much food and joyfully belting out carols, a tornado hit the mountain and surrounding areas. For 30 minutes lightening flashed thunder roared, wind swirled in all direction forcing rain and hail in a horizontal frenetic dance.

Conspiracy theories, climate deniers, ratbags, politicians and saints

End Native Forest Loggng Now!

This year might be a watershed moment for Australia. This year might be an opportunity for us to let go of the colonial shackles, prejudices, biases and fears we may have about treaties, reconciliation and our notions of what it is to be Australian. We have an opportunity to reframe our identity, to move forward with pride and honour.

THOUGHTS WHILE WALKING - a month in south west France