25 x 33cm,

Oil on Primed Paper

2015

Over the past two years, I've been working with photographer, Lisa Kyle to create a small series of intimate photos.

The idea we had was simple, we got together two close friends to model, invested in some shmick lighting and pimped out the living room of a luxury apartment. A pop up high life!

The whole exercise took about six months for us to complete, with only four photo shoots and without this time, the experience and outcome would have been compromised.

Most of what we learnt was from each other. Anyone who has worked with Lisa will know just how outstanding a person and creative genius she is. It's a real luxury to watch her work develop over the years as her creativity is truly boundless. As for the models, their personalities begun to shine and we responded in whatever way we saw would highlight their unique character. Although being chalk and cheese, both models have a captivating strength which naturally came out in our work.

Eight months after the last photo shoot, we've all decided that the next step would be to exhibit the portraits in the form of paintings. This piece above will be one of the first to be showcased this year as part of a group exhibition at Heathcote Gallery.

If you'd like to come to see the works, please send me a message here.

Location: TBA (Perth, Western Australia)

Date: Friday 2nd October, 2015

46 x 76cm

Oil on Primed Paper

Soft Gaze and Stillness

46 x 76cm

Oil on Primed Paper,

2015

The journey that I've undertaken to develop these portraits of the Vietnamese highlanders has been remarkable. The faces are becoming more firmiliar as the weeks go by and a sence of spirit is begining to shine through. I can't ignore the feeling that perhaps the culture is coming through the works and presenting their perspective. A matter of the spirit perhaps. So far it has been an endless road of great surprises and challenges, and am looking forward to seeing where the works will eventually lead me to.

46 x 76cm

Oil on Primed Paper,

2015

Friendship (1)

46 x 76cm

Oil on Primed Paper,

2015

Friendship (2)

46 x 76cm

Oil on Primed Paper,

2015

46 x 76cm

Oil on Primed Paper,

2015

Last year in Vietnam, my partner and I become friends of Lotus Gallery in Saigon. Before returning back home, we'd been offered by gallery owner Xuan Phuong to return back and paint an a body of work of the highlanders from Da Lat, Dak Lak. Talanted photographer Hoang The Nhiem has journeyed up to these remote areas to document their unique stories, and my job is to translate the stories into art.

So from here we'll spend a chapter in Vietnam from June until November when the show exhibits.

This will blossom into International debut and first step towards new portraiture work. An incredible experience with an incredible gallery and photographer.