The beginnings of my Fascination with Geology

Trekking in the Andes of Peru.

I was completely awe-struck and brought to tears.

An arduous, breathtaking trek at 14000 ft across the Andes above the sacred valley of Peru several years ago, radically changed my direction for art practice. A group of us spent 10 days hiking across a dramatic mountainous landscape. Some of the highest peaks were over 20,000 ft. High altitude sickness was an issue for some, chewing coca leaves helped keep it at bay. In those 10 days of walking, sleeping, breathing high altitude air, power felt from the rock underneath me gave me transparency between earth and sky.

A profound experience that then led me to Iceland, seeking a residency that would bring me closer to connecting my curiosity about the geology of wild untamed places. I don’t know exactly where the work is going but I’m with it.

Camping at 14.000 ft above The Sacred Valley, Peru.

Studio notes

Continue this next painting 35x48x2"

Enjoying this and have reached a complete stage. The best is if I can just keep going and flush out this idea of architecture/building in remote places/ impact/consequences. As I keep painting i pose these questions. My challenge is to keep it simple and simmer it down to a main issue. (This may take several works to flush out this project.

. write a little each day in my idea book, documenting my painting--working and methods and struggles, thoughts and surprises.

I remembered to do twice, something to improve upon.

Take more videos and examine work methods and document Staggered through this one.

Gesso up 6 small linen boards.

Not yet. I needed to feel an outline for this mini series.

Continue on with "priming my morning" daily habit and getting out for an earlier walk or yoga/pilates practice.

Feeling good about this, easier to maintain than I thought. My new habit is to wait to read emails, news etc mid morning with coffee not first thing on waking.

So much better.

A short story

I’m motivated to create imagery and inspired by geological structures and observations. Years ago I dug for crystals in the mountains near Vail, Colorado, USA. I cut turquoise and made extravagant jewellery using rare specimens of the gem. I hand-fabricated metal and stones in my early career as a jeweller. All these achievements and life experiences feed into my art-making now in their various ways.

Topic fuelling current work...

Hello hello, it’s January 1 2024.!

Wishing you a superb year ahead, health and happiness to all my friends and subscribers. I do apologise for abandoning my blog or rather journal excerpts. Just had too much upheaval in 2023.

I plan to jot down notes and stories related to my work each month this year! now help me stay acountable to that pledge!

While travelling across Iceland’s fascinating landscapes I was compelled to query why many homes are built in remote, visually precarious and untamed locations. Are they chosen to defy nature's extremes by building homes at the foot of volcanoes or on precarious mountain slope?

This audacious endeavor, seemingly playing with the edge of catastrophe, invites reflection on the delicate dance between human aspiration and the formidable forces of the earth. These remote abodes stand as testaments to both the allure of Iceland's rugged beauty and the inherent risks woven into the fabric of living in such awe-inspiring yet unpredictable environments.

This tension and fascination has opened up more questions and this is a topic I’m unfolding in my work currently.