So much to explore

One of my favourite local hill climbs / walks is Isaacs Ridge in the inner south of Canberra. It’s not the most pristine of environments, with a mix of old abandoned sheep paddock, vestigial native forest, and patches of old derelict pine plantation. Perhaps it’s the general feeling of neglect that appeals to me, as nature is gradually reclaiming the land, often in unexpected ways. It could also be the spectacular views from the top of the ridge that draw me, along with it being one of the less frequented walking areas.

Anyway, I decided in this painting to focus on one of the pine plantations. Towering radiata pines cast deep dark mysterious shadows over a ground covered deep in old needles with the occasional profusion of grasses and weeds.

At night, these artificial forests are forbidding places – you just don’t want to be near them as those shadows become ominous, but around sunset with the low light breaking through creating corridors of sparkling colour, there’s a magic to this place.

Just for fun I added my old border collie Cooper, who in his younger years used to love exploring off the leash and would cheekily refuse to come when called if he thought he had better things to do (i.e. so much to explore) – he’d look at me with a silly grin on his face, just as he’s doing here.

He’d have loved this forest, though I’m not sure what he’d have made of the occasional kangaroos…

“So much to explore” is mixed media on an framed 76x61cm birch panel, and is currently on show at my solo exhibition, “In the distance”, at the WOTSO Health Space in North Strathfield. It is available for  purchase from the Nationwide Curating website.