See my post below for more info on this band who are most certainly my very favourite Australian music artists, and have been an ongoing inspiration. As a fellow painter and I agreed last night, their music is perfect painting music, and what a surreal experience it was to be able to do it live!

It was a sultry hot night, and luckily I had an offsider who happened to film portions of the evening. The lead singer and composer Trash apparently broke his rib during sound check but nonetheless in daunting conditions the band delivered an enthralling performance.

When I got home in the early hours of the morning, I could have sworn Armageddon had hit with the most incredible lightning storm and downpour unlike any I had ever seen- I was beginning to think the end of the world had actually arrived! Hopefully I will get the chance to repeat this experience before that truly happens.

Here is their latest video of the song ‘The Streets Fell Into My Window’, featured in the video above.

THE RED PAINTINGS (TRP) are a progressive rock / theatrical performance group who incorporate themed costumed stage shows, live art, visual projections (working with local and international artists), human canvases. The bands’ sound and live show is described by fans and press as orchestral art rock.

Compared to acts like Radiohead, Muse & The Arcade Fire and also hand picked as touring support around the globe with like minded acts such as Atari Teenage Riot, The Posies, The Dresden Dolls, Mindless Self Indulgence, Saul Williams, and Mogwai.

The Red Paintings are one of those few acts that will take you on a journey into the future with a lively and visionary performance that is sure to inspire your mind and senses alike!

Last month, The Red Paintings (TRP) posted a message on Facebook promising that if 1000 Australian fans hit ‘’LIKE’’ on the post, TRP would return to Australia to play all Capital cities in the summer of 2011/2012. With over 1000 LIKES from fans upon the announcement of a potential tour, it became, as promised, a reality.

After a busy 2011 which included US support dates for Atari Teenage Riot, The Posies and Alien Ant Farm, THE RED PAINTINGS (TRP) are proud to announce their return to Australian stages for their first national headline tour in over 3 years bringing their latest and most unique stage show THE BLACK PAINTINGS, direct from the USA.

The Black Paintings tour brings a creative new stage show to Australia, showcasing songs from the bands forthcoming album. The live experience incorporates cello, violin, piano, drums, bass, guitar and vocals. The show is an artistic reflection on the potential outcome of conscious human neglect of our natural resources. At each show, artists and audience members are encouraged to join the band on stage to express (through painting) their individual visions through connecting with the music. In addition to painting on traditional canvases, the artists also paint on ‘human canvases’”. Each TRP stage show is a unique collaboration between the audience, art and the band, while in real time, recognising and confronting important issues. Through this interaction, the band creates a uniquely more engaging experience.

You can check out the event page here with all the details you need to know for this must-see event!

I’m getting my brushes ready!

In other news, my very first stall happened a a month or two ago. Yeah, I’ve been a bit slack with the updatery. But this happened, and it was fun!

Yeah I was getting into the tribal spirit that day. And I was really happy with the quality of the prints I was selling too. I was also selling some rare ‘hidden’ original works in a  silent auction- only one painting came back home with me after it fell of the wall and demanded to be withdrawn from consideration

I am also pleased to announce that one of my favourite pieces, ‘Ownsome’ has been published in Yen Magazine’s TONI&GUY Young Australian Art Award. There are some cool, quirky and inspiring pieces over there so be sure to go over and check them all out!

The thingy-majiggy that I am doing that I am calling ‘The Nexus Series’ has it’s third illustration completed today. Well I can officially call it a series now, what with there being three of them now! Here are the other two;

What is the end point of this? I am not really sure. They are somwhat elemental in nature, so I’d image there would be at least one more, but maybe more to come. Like the others, this latest painting is watercolour and acrylic on paper.

Roller Derby is this crazy sport that is quickly becoming popular all over the world. I was a bit skeptical at first, but as soon as I found out a new team would be training locally I was all over it!

I am trying to not let it take over my life; I just wanna skate, man!

I finally managed to finish this illustration, entitled ‘Earie’. I let it go stagnant for a long while- how fitting for a swamp-y drawing! During my walks I have had a couple of really interesting swampy experiences. The twilight really comes alive with all sorts of bugs and you could just imagine strange creatures crawling out of the ooze.

This is the second drawing of my ‘Nexus’ series, the first of which is ‘Tiered‘. These illustrations are based on my interpretations of runes as they come to me.

When things get really busy at work, needless to say my batteries do run a little low. It’s really hard to keep inspired and not feel guilty about not having enough mental energy to make any art- I don’t run out of ideas, but I do run out of time and inclination. So instead of submitting to the guilt trip of the nasty inner voice and succumb to the wrath of ‘artist’s block’, I try to just accept a bit of time out and allow for myself to come back into creativity when I’m ready. To recharge I have a couple of strategies.

Firstly I am lucky enough to live across the road from some stunning wetlands boardwalks. They feel like such a portal to the realm of faerie and remind me that I am a small little mud creature after all. My Border Collie, Bella, doesn’t mind the walks either. I think she does mind when I take the camera though… too much stopping!

Secondly I have tried to carve something of a niche into the wild garden of non-productive, water-sucking plants that I have which totally does not suit the climate I live in nor my own personal desire to one day grow as much of my own food as possible. Above you can see something of my little veggie garden which is mostly filled with green leaves. When bananas are cheap I whip them into a smoothie, so far nothing has died! Go green planties go!

Thirdly, I hop onto Tumblr and probably spend way too much time there. Regardless, it keeps me just a little bit sane!

1. Work in progress: nearly finished the 2nd of my ‘Nexus’ series. 2.) The sketch. 3.) 4 new canvases are now lying in wait, begging to be vandalised

I found this in my YouTube archives of videos I put on deep freeze. I still think vlogs like this are kind of cool and I might try and do more in the future. I remember being really inspired by Michael Shapcott’s videos. This is a progress video of ‘Sharkhand’.

This was done about 3 years ago, probably 5 kilos heavier by the looks of things, in a different house where I used the kitchen table as my painting zone. Witness my lonely single life where it was just me and the cat, and I thought tree sap resin was probably the most riveting thing ever.

Ok so not much has changed after all…