One of my first photography collections was “Tonal Landscapes”. This was a series of photographs with limited colour palettes.

In my paintings, I love using colour. So a limited colour palette painting was something new for me. I used water based inks on watercolour paper. ‘Abstract Landscape in Red’ was the result.

Marks and Tone

Creating ‘Abstract Landscape in Red’ I was more conscious of how I created the marks. The tonal values were more obvious than in works with multiple vibrant hues. So we’re the size of the strokes. I found this to be quite a different experience. The watercolour paper added to this experience of difference.

As soon as he saw the painting, my partner dubbed it the Flinders Ranges. A place he loves. I gave the original to him, so it will stay with us. It gives me the chance to see it often. I like the layering of the thick strokes interspersed with the scratched black lines. These were made with the pointed end of a bamboo skewer.

I think it’s time I tried another limited colour palette painting.