Searching for the Pink Cloud

"Searching for the Pink Cloud" (by day) 153 x 183 cm, oil on canvas, 2011

"Searching for the Pink Cloud" (by night) oil on canvas with internal lighting system, 153 x 183 cm, 2011

This painting was an experiment to see how the landscape would change from day to night. The floating mountainous landscape, influenced by the Far East has a mystical quality by day and takes on more of a romantic feel by night. The predominant colours are green and blue with the pink cloud providing an unexpected burst of energy. At night it glows brilliantly within the relatively moody palette of the canvas.

Wishfulfilling Tree with Auspicious Offerings

Wishfulfilling Tree with Auspicious Offerings- oil on canvas , 183 x 153 cm, 2005

Tree Spirits (detail)

Although I completed this painting in 2005, it still remains one of my favourite pieces and I have managed to hold onto it even though it was hanging on a collector's wall for a few weeks once but I decided to withdraw the sale (which was quite a tough decision) as I couldn't imagine it being anywhere other than with me. It is like that with some paintings. The tree represents knowledge and wisdom, strength and growth while the 7 exquisite blue lotus flowers symbolise the victory of the spirit over wisdom, intelligence and knowledge. They also represent the perfection of nature, beauty, purity and spiritual awakening. I had just come back from Thailand when I painted this, having been inspired by their reverence of the tree which graces many a temple courtyard. They lovingly wrap the trunks with exotic material and place all manner of deities at the base. The deities in this painting are all personal to me. Ganesh of course is a well loved Hindu deity, who symbolises the Remover of Obstacles, patron of arts and sciences and the deva of intellect and wisdom. The Blue Angel (a fictional character) is followed by the Buddha in seated meditation, a pencil drawing of a cat-bear with flying fat angels above his head, a Victorian wooden rabbit with a dog which belonged to my Grandmother, and Little Tree (another fictional character) with a mass of hair made from grass. The tiger was inspired after a trip to a temple near Burma where the monks take in orphaned tigers - a truly magical place. Then I added the most Ancient Superman, the Hindu deity Hanuman. He symbolically stands for pure devotion, complete surrender and absence of ego (or lower self).  Next to him is a wooden sculpture which also belonged to my Grandmother, I love this piece, it is really simple and the leaning stance of the figure is genius. Next up is Ronald McDonald, (note the arrows in his chakras) whom I found to be quite sinister with his hands in prayer. Finally I threw in a peacock which is a symbol of immortality because the ancients believed the peacock had flesh that didn't decay after death. It also has many other meanings including the all-seeing eye in the feathers (rather like the all-seeing eye in Egyptian, Greek and Roman mythology) warding off evil spirits. I am loath to sell this painting but if the right buyer came along, who knows I might reluctantly decide to part with it. I would consider doing a personalised version if someone was interested.

Collages ~ now available to buy as prints

"The Mighty Revelation" collage on paper, 229 x 305 mm

"Act 1, Scene 1: Duplicity" - collage on paper,  229 x 305 mm,  2011

"Shady Portal" - collage on paper, 229 x 305 mm, 2011

"The One That Got Away" - collage on paper,  229 x 305mm, 2010

"Speak to the Earth, and it Will Teach You, or Let the Fish of the Sea Inform You" - collage on paper,  2011

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"One is All, All is One" - collage on paper, 229 x 305 mm, 2010

"Weary Time Traveller" - collage on paper, 229 x 305 mm,  2011

"Happy Ending" -  collage on paper,  229 x 305 mm, 2010

"Time Was Away and Somewhere Else" - collage on paper, 209 x 305 mm, 2010

"Midnight Marauders" - collage on paper, 209 x 305 mm, 2011

"Giving Truth an Outing" - collage on paper, 209 x 305 mm, 2011

"Cheetah Chiquita of Shinto Falls" - collage on paper, 209 x 305 mm, 2010

"Garden of Unearthly Delights" - collage on paper, 209 x 305 mm, 2011

"The Persistent Illusion" - collage on paper, 209 x 305 mm, 2009

"This is not Death, it is something safer" - collage on paper, 209 x 305 mm, 2011

"I Drove This Car all over Los Angeles And Fell in Love (with the car)" 2009

"Calmer Cobra" - collage on paper, 209 x 305 mm, 2010

"God's Little Messenger" - collage on paper, 209 x 305 mm, 2011

"The Painful process of Growth" - collage on paper, 209 x 305 mm, 2011

"Searching For Amelia" collage on paper, 209 x 305 mm, 2009

"Mellifluous on The High Seas" - collage on paper, 209 x 305 mm, 2011

"The World is Too Much For Us" - collage on paper, 209 x 305 mm, 2009

"Raphael's Angel of Abundance" - collage on paper, 209 x 305 mm, 2011

"Ask The Animals and They Will Teach You" - collage on paper, 209 x 305 mm, 2011

"Aham Prema" - collage on paper, 209 x 305 mm, 2011

"Delicious Solitude" - collage on paper, 209 x 305 mm, 2010

"Things Are Looking Rosie" - collage on paper, 209 x 305 mm, 2010

"The Last Romantics" - collage on paper, 209 x 305 mm, 2009

 These collages are now available to buy as limited edition digital giclee prints using archival ultrachrome inks. They are printed on Hahnemuehle German Etching paper, a heavyweight (310gsm) fine art paper which is slightly textured.  They will be available in A1 (841 x 594 mm),  (A3 (420 x 297 mm) or A2 (420 x 297 mm). I am currently doing small editions of 35. Please contact me at: trickypainter@gmail.com for prices and orders.

I have been making collages for the last 3 years and I really enjoy the process as they come to me quite effortlessly; what I find is that a universal visual language seems to continuously crop up from the unfathomable depths of my psyche. This could be likened to Jung's observation of the Collective Unconscious, where certain archetypes seem to reoccur in the form of dreamlike imagery that is derivative of ancient myths, folklore, religion etc. 

These collages provide me with material that has tapped into a surreal, mystical, dreamy and childlike aspect of my psyche. It feels like they could hold some kind of hidden message or guidance from my subconscious just as we have that opportunity with our dreams. We are all co-creators of the Universe and now, more than ever, we need to channel and download this continual stream of information that seems to be flowing forth offering us an opportunity to expand and heal from within. Interesting times.......