Signpost

2001
Acrylic on canvasboard
W510 x H780
Private collection

In this work I explored dividing the canvas into sections, some constructed by the signpost motif, and others constructed abstractly. Again, I included written word for part of this artwork.

“The road stretches out. Only a signpost looking out as a late night cleaner. Silent in its way but it’s the only one showing the dirt which way to go.”

Night Falls

2001
Acrylic on un-stretched canvas
W1050 x H740
Private collection

While attending the National Leadership Development Course in 2001, which consisted of a 3 day solo on the shore of Lake Rotowiti, I had written a poem one of the nights there. Following this I turned the poem into this three part painting, again in the style of Colin McCahon.

“Night falls silently across the hills and lake, floating through thin air which chills the bone.

Night falls bringing with it darkness around the land but there is something else it brings, Building and eating away at a lonely soul. Fear strikes in the dark of the Night. Terror runs through the blood of body.

Night falls all is peacefull(sic) or not so full. As I toss and turn in my bag of warm a chill runs down my spine.”

Why Do You Hate Me?

2001
Acrylic on canvasboard
W610 x H914
Private collection

The final piece of my early McCahon studies on canvasboard. After this piece I began a different journey with these works and moved onto studying the landscape a bit more.

“Saul, why do you hate me? Saul, why do you persecute me?”

Elois

2001
Acrylic on canvasboard
W610 x H914
Private collection

A continuation of this series of work based off Colin McCahon’s work of the same theme.

“Elois lama sabachthani. Father I give you my life. And then He breathed His last.”

Chinese Rollercoaster

2000
Acrylic and sand on un-stretched canvasboard
W373 x H620
Private collection

This piece is my first experimentation with adding texture by using sand mixed in with the paint and glue to make a thickness to the work. The self authored poem is written to blend with the background of a sun / moon across some water with a cross also depicted.

“Like a bird soaring high in the sky, freedom is a present and longed for in this life. TURNING THE TIDES. Like a Chinese roller coaster, the waves twist and turn. You are my ship’s captain. If some soul goes overboard I’d be diving into the vast ocean before me to save them from the ocean’s throw. Violent as _”

Ehyh

2000
Acrylic on canvasboard
W610 x H914
Private collection

The second in the Elois series modelled off Colin McCahon.

Ehyh yahweh ha Meshiach. I am God the Messiah. Yeshua shumi. Jesus is my name.

Elois Lama Sabachthani

2000
Acrylic on canvasboard
W610 x H914
Private Collection

This work is one of my favourite from my early works. In the style of Colin McCahon, I took direct inspiration from some of his works, but also from taking text from the Hebrew bible. This was also my first piece on canvasboard, a gesso-primed canvas stretched and glued around a firm cardboard backing.

Alas My Love

2000
Acrylic on un-stretched canvas
W500 x H894
Private Collection

This work is one of my first paintings on actual canvas. Before this my artworks had all been on paper from school. Here I used a poem by Kevin Max Smith of DC Talk fame, and recreated it in the style of one of my artistic heros; Colin McCahon.