Very pleased to be starting a Lighthouse Arts residency tomorrow, courtesy of Hunter Writers Centre! Located at Nobby’s-Whibayganba Headland on Newcastle Harbour, the residency is a deep immersion in sea, sky and wind… lots of wind!

Today I was painting an old farmhouse property in the Hunter Valley, and listening to podcasts while I worked. My current favourite is ‘Creative Pep Talk’ and the episode usually concludes with some kind of practical exercise for artists. Today’s was about reverse-engineering your creative practice so, for example, writing lyrics when you usually start with the musical score, or drawing images when you usually start with words. Thought I’d try it in advance of tomorrow’s residency, by writing about what I would like to paint during the residency. I’m intending to create a series of paintings of the harbour – inspired by the sincerity of Alfred Wallis’ shipping images (no gap between object and intent) and the wonderful, floating spatial quality of Marc Chagall. Here it is:

I want to create dream-like images that show the movement of wind, water and sky, the slow churn of the earth, the flicker of shadows and the flight of gulls. I want ships and boats to stand in for humans, to be just as varied, emotive and interesting. I want to see fish many fathoms down, and satellites high above the sky. I want the giant spin of things to be as pretty and engaging as a child’s toy. I want to see the stars at noon.