Diary Entry: Tuesday June 12, 2007

In Tasmania we are only just coming out of a prolonged period of drought. During the past Autumn season I made several trips to the Tasmanian countryside and highlands and saw countless dry farm dams and lakes as low as I had ever seen.

My current drawing, “Thirsty pond near Longford”, is both landscape and metaphor. I am fascinated with the patterns created, especially the stark “canyons” that appear; at first seemingly random, but after a while I feel a sense of “deliberate design” has been employed.

I intend to develop this drawing into a metaphor reflecting our secular society where God to many is either forgotten or a scapegoat in hard times.

Diary Entry: Friday June 15, 2007-06-15

Finished at last! I did not want to crowd the drawing with too many rocks and sticks as I felt it was busy enough especially the cracks and canyons that one would expect of such a scene.
I always include a dove in this type of work. It represents the Holy Spirit (of God), a guardian, counsellor and sometimes an observer. In this instance I feel the dove is both observer and counsellor.

What has been done to this landscape is more to do with our treatment of the planet rather than a more “natural” occurrence.

I see the “breakdown” of the surface of the dried-up pond a reflection of the discontent in our society today.