“Look out there’, my lecturer said, after he took me out on the balcony at art school. ‘Can you see?’ I nodded vaguely. ‘Look at sky. Can you see? ‘Yes’, I answered. ‘That’s all you need to know”
— John Siow – Illustration lecturer
10 July 2016/Scrub near Rocky Gully//Fineliner, masking fluid, watercolour
The scrub
A view over typical craggy and rocky hilltops in the West MacDonnell ranges, West of Alice Springs. I remember being very uncomfortable at this spot, with my back against sharp rocks, and thorny plants annoying me. But quite fitting to the subject matter though. The rocks seem to be slanted in one direction but the next hill could be quite the opposite. The unpredictability in nature on this wilderness hike was never disappointing. Some ghost gums, and blackwood trees add to the atmosphere.
11 July 2017/A gumtree curving away at Mulga camp//Masking fluid, watercolour
Trees grow everywhere – indeed also in the desert – and they form great subject matter. At least they don’t move! They function as bike stands, chairs, provide shade, and act as an umbrella. But foremost they are great to draw.
13 July 29016/Hill face at Serpentine Dam//Pen & ink, watercolour, masking fluid
13 July 2016/A line study of looking into the undergrowth at a camp//Brushpen
11 July 2017/A river gumtree at Ellery Creek//Pen & ink, watercolour