22x100. 1988. This is the first painting produced when I first came back from Japan after studying Japanese Painting, a stint of about 5 years which gave me an Honors degree in Japanese painting but also left me a bit flattened out in more ways than one. I went to the ocean, the Pacific coast and found some answers there.

 

I noticed the horizontal character of Australia, a flat ancient land that has been worn down flat by the forces of nature. I'd been in Japan where there are so many mountains and everything is recently thrust up geologically. I always remembered Fred Williams' horizontal paintings that I'd first seen in Newcastle as a student, and actually had the privilege of "babysitting" at an exhibition in Japan. These must have been in mind as i looked at the Bateau Bay Horizon.

 

This painting is Bateau Bay on the south end, there is a wide rock platform, Mangroves and the horizon of course. it curves slightly. In this painting are some of the principles of Zen Rock Gardens. The theme of water and rock, The ocean as symbol of the cosmos. The colours are natural blue stones and ochres from both Japan and Australia. The black across the top is sumi (like ink) and represents the outer space above the atmosphere. There are more things to say about this painting, but thatss enough especially when I hope it can speak for itself.