The local preschool is having a fundraising appeal where locals buy and decorate female torsos and then they’re auctioned at a gala night at the Albion Cafe. I was strong-armed into taking part and I really like them. Not sure who’d want them in their homes though. Death was inspired by Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead and a celebration of all … Continue reading Love & Death for Braidwood Preschool
Over Easter, the Braidwood Regional Arts Group have their annual exhibition in the National Theatre. I created these giant chickens with Kerrie Lester at the National Arts School and thought the chicken theme and the idea of renewal perfect for the Easter period. The exhibition was a lot of fun. In fact, three gallery openings were on the same night in town with a population … Continue reading Easter Exhibition: Giant chickens
I love when great work gets shortlisted for an awesome prize and the finalists for the Abstract Showdown are really incredible. I actually think the new voting system has helped here where you vote for a work based on it’s merit, giving it a score, rather than a “hot or not” showdown like in previous showdowns. Abstract is not my thing yet, but I had … Continue reading Check out the amazing Saatchi Online Abstract Finalists
Normally I create my work on the kitchen table, it’s comforting and easy and close to hot cups of tea. With the rain falling constantly & roads cut due to flood waters, I’ve needed to leave the house and have set up a workshop & studio in the old sheep shearing shed. It’s drafty and dusty but the natural light from the sky lights is … Continue reading When it floods, head to the shearing shed
I enterted the Saatchi Online collage showdown last month. It’s a great opportunity to showcase your work and even get a chance to show in Saatchi Gallery in London. Great stuff. The old voting system was a ‘hot or not’ style voting where you were paired with another piece of work and the viewer voted on the one they liked the most. Thankfully, they’ve changed … Continue reading They’ve changed the rules: Saatchi Showdown
I woke up this morning and pulled the sheet over my head. The dog had been barking all night at wombats. My first solo exhibition space had fallen through yesterday. And I was wondering if I should suck it up go back to my ‘day job’ and forget this art goose-chase. A very good friend and my partner said it’s not too late to find … Continue reading Sometimes, when you need it most, something magical happens
I’m really happy that Kelly Susan won the Saatchi Online Collage Showdown. I was concerned when I was looking at the entries that there seemed to be many entries that bore little resemblance to collage. I think her works are striking and deserve a win. It’s hard though to judge someone’s work from a single piece and I think many artists would have suffered from … Continue reading Congratulations to Kelly Susan; Collage Showdown winner
As you know, I’ve been working on this series of collages about the death of Azaria Chamberlain at Uluru in 1980. This car collage is the last in the series. It’s a 1977 Torana Hatchback, but interestingly, the eldest son Aidan (who I depicted earlier eating a can of baked beans) was married in this car in 2008. I guess it was a way of … Continue reading Married in the car my sister was murdered in
I’ve been working on this collage series for months now. I have a firm deadline as there’s about to be a Fourth and final inquest, on February 24, into the death of the baby girl, Azaria; a case that has lingered on for over 30 years. I thought this piece was going to be the best yet, but something went awry in the creative process. … Continue reading Picasso vomit on a bad day
Like many artists, I need to do other things to support myself. Before committing myself to collage, I used to work in advertising, most recently at Belgiovane Williams and Mackay. Now I have a little outfit where I run The Wood Agency; where I create campaigns, write and bake baked goods. My commute is normally about 10 paces but, today, a meeting in Sydney means … Continue reading The sacrifices artists need to make
Ray Monde 