Description

River Bed is a hand printed reduction linocut in oil inks, on Fabriano Artistico paper.

The North West Bay River runs through bush land above the township of Margate, in Southern Tasmania. Its rocky bed is full of twists and turns, quiet pools, and small waterfalls. Because you can never see very far along it, each part of it feels like a private little world – a tiny valley with trees on either side and paved with stones.
This artwork was inspired by the lively areas of white river water with their complex eddies and currents, and the way they contrast with the tranquil green pools that feed them.
I am frequently drawn to the complexities of moving water as my choice of subject matter. My observations include noting the way that water takes on its substance from the myriad of colours and forms around it, integrating the surrounding landscape into itself. I am fascinated by the patterns found in nature and how, on water surfaces, these patterns shape our perception of both its substance and movement.
A key challenge for this artwork was to convey a sense of motion and downward flow in the water using the dominant white areas of pattern. These patterns show how both the path and speed of the water is dictated by the rock forms.
With this artwork, I aim to evoke a sense of wonder and thankfulness for the many little worlds within the wider world that can be found at each bend of a small bushland river.