Roger Roberts Art

Mellow Yellow.

2012-01-23T15:44:00.001-08:00

The weather has been so hot recently, that my usually 'too cold' studio has been up to 35 degrees inside, Yikes!!

even my little fan doesn't help very much!! I may have to cave in and get an air conditioner,

we have been here 2 years and I can't remember it being this hot before,

( dreaded global warming!!) this painting is 61 x 46 cm. hope you like it, please contact me for price details.

The Golden Egg (sold)

2012-01-22T22:25:00.000-08:00

This is a painting that was originally done for my Adelaide exhibition last year, and has been sold recently to a collector in Melbourne, the painting is large at 152 x 102 cm.

Apple and Cherries. (sold)

2012-01-07T23:12:00.001-08:00

This is a commissioned painting, from clients in Melbourne, it's the same size as the one below,

I must admit to eating both the apple and the cherries after the session!!

Forbidden Fruit.

2012-01-02T21:40:00.000-08:00

This is a new picture about 770 x 770cm larger than normal for me, I like the sensual nature of the fruit, and the reflections from peach to grapes.

Aviator.

2012-01-02T21:03:00.001-08:00

This is a recent nest painting, it is 122 x 91 c.m I have completed a second painting showing found objects scattered on the ground, which I will post up soon, when I get some time!! enjoy, anyone interested in coming up to visit me in my studio / gallery near Daylesford in Victoria, just phone me, or contact via email, I can give directions, and would love to show you large or small paintings, or drawings from life.

save on gallery prices by dealing direct with the artist.!

Apple and Grapes.

2011-12-31T17:19:00.001-08:00

Just a small painting 31 cm x 23cm. I put two coats of gloss varnish on this one, it looks like it was painted 150 years ago!!, also I added some some touches with the palette knife. I would like to see it go into an ornate gold frame.

Following the light.

2011-12-31T17:01:00.000-08:00

Hi Bloggers and a happy new year to you, lets hope it's a wonderful one for all of you, If you have wondered why I have been neglecting my blog over recent months, it's because we will be part of the Australian Open Garden scheme at the end of this January, so with 5 acres of wasteland! to whip into shape,!! my painting endeavors have taken a back seat for a while.

However I have produced a few new pieces, some of which I will post up for you to see,

I have found that my nest series, started some 7 years ago, totally original and unique, have been plagiarized all over the place, but that is the down side of the internet I suppose, and something all artists have to contend with.

but it does make me hesitate to put all my new work on the site.

still life with pears and a plum.

2011-07-02T21:02:00.000-07:00

This little painting will be shown in a new gallery /shop at Mt Martha, Victoria, our friend Chris Crewdson is opening a beautiful French influence decor and gift shop, so she has taken a few small works of mine to display if you are in the area, do drop in and say Hi! to Chris the shop is called 'Plum'.

A couple of recent paintings

2011-07-02T20:54:00.000-07:00

A new painting, in high key,oil on canvas, and it's small at 15 by 30 c.m.

Hidden Treasure.

2011-03-30T19:03:00.001-07:00

A beautiful new painting from the recent exhibition, in Adelaide, this is 110 x 760 in size,

oil on canvas, anyone interested in purchasing this picture simply email me, and I will forward a price and other details, of course buying direct from the artist saves 35% in cost, so this may be worth considering.!

The Ochre Nest. Sold.

2011-03-30T18:33:00.000-07:00

Another picture from the 'Nest Series Exhibition' it's a medium size painting, 110 x 760,

and sold to a couple from the Adelaide Hills.

The 3 blue eggs.

2011-03-30T18:29:00.000-07:00

This painting was shown at my recent solo exhibition at the Conservation Centre in Adelaide,

Egg in a Bowl.

2010-11-10T21:59:00.000-08:00

A small painting, done a couple of weeks ago, using subdued colours, and for some reason I like it a lot!!, kinda links in nicely with the nest series!

Art Deco Jug and lemons

2010-11-09T23:12:00.001-08:00

This little painting depicts a favourite jug that has been with us for about 20 years.

Hover Craft.

2010-11-09T23:04:00.000-08:00

A new nest painting, this may go into my exhibition in Adelaide, end of February 2011.

it is a small canvas about 61 cm wide.

Stilll life with small vase.

2010-10-30T23:37:00.000-07:00

I'm off to Perth for a week, from next Tuesday, going to see some galleries etc, I did this painting the other day and thought I'd post it up, hope you like it.

Secret Treasure.

2010-10-29T23:55:00.000-07:00

A new nest painting, this may be shown at my upcoming exhibition in Adelaide as part of the Fringe arts Festival next February, it will be shown at the Santos conservation gallery at the entrance to the Adelaide Zoo, the curator, feels the link with these beautiful nest images and the fragility of nature, would make a wonderful exhibition,

it's about 120, wide by 100 deep. oil on canvas, it's a looser and more spontaneous style than my earlier nest paintings, I love doing these, and the reactions have been so positive from many quarters. I would interested showing my work in overseas galleries, please contact me.

Chinese Vase.

2010-10-29T23:40:00.001-07:00

Another still life,oil on canvas of course, It's always a challenge to do a picture and not use a dark background, so I forced myself to try it, ! and it works here nicely, this painting is available for sale, at $350.00 just email me if you are interested, the size is, 30c.m. x 30c.m.

any postage will be added to price. the size is

Two Pears. (sold.)

2010-10-29T23:25:00.001-07:00

I haven't been putting things up on my blog recently, because of my move interstate, and with so much to do,

anyway, I have started to paint again, and I'm going to try to freshen up my site with new pictures on a more regular basis, my new email address is rogerroberts@wideband.net.au

I entered this painting in the Daylesford art show, (also helped hang the exhibition.)and happily it sold on the 1st day. it's a large still life for me, about 70 c.m. wide.

The Turquoise egg.

2010-07-15T00:02:00.001-07:00

This painting is 1m x 120 it was the hit at the studio open day, and sold to a Melbourne couple.

it has high impact in real life, and has a very dramatic quality.

Flowers in a vase.

2010-07-14T22:16:00.001-07:00

Hi Bloggers, this is a newish painting of some Chrysanthemums, the previous flower painting sold before the paint was dry, so I needed to replace it,!

The gallery opening went very well, with lots of new friends from the Daylesford area turning up, as well as about a dozen people over from Adelaide for the occasion, we sold some work also Valerie, had some lovely works on show, and made 3 sales, her landscapes are magical, I will post a few up on this blog soon.

Chrysanthemums

2010-06-10T23:37:00.000-07:00

a small painting, sorry about the reflected light on the surface of the picture, no time to take another shot, it is more subtle in reality, hope you both like it!!

Pomegranates and Mug.

2010-06-10T23:22:00.000-07:00

This is a recent painting , I have a deadline of about a month to produce about half a dozen new works, to fill the gallery, as we have invited lots of people to the opening, nothing like a deadline and pressure to bring out the best in you!

3 pears and Chinese Vase

2010-05-17T23:46:00.000-07:00

This little painting was completed the other day, I'm starting to use the palette knife, and it helps those highlights to grab attention, the size of this picture is 410 x 310 m.m. hope you like it.

two pears and an apple.

2010-05-10T22:31:00.000-07:00

I'm doing this blog while the weather is freezing, only 13 degrees at the moment and know heating in the studio until the handyman comes and installs the woodheater. hope you like the painting.

still life with pumpkin.

2010-05-10T22:12:00.000-07:00

Another still life, this one is slightly larger than the others at 400mm x 200mm. oil on canvas.

small still life.

2010-05-10T22:07:00.001-07:00

A new still life, one of many I will be adding to my blog over the next few weeks, I'm hoping to open my studio and gallery to the public at weekends only, or by appointment, my aim is to open the doors mid July, I have to build a stock of artwork before then, wish me luck. any comments are welcome.

Studio.

2010-04-21T22:13:00.000-07:00

This a view of new studio from the front, notice my bush poles used as support for the verandah.

Up and Running!

2010-04-04T16:14:00.001-07:00

Hi Guys, this is my 1st posting since making the move over here to Victoria last October, my time has been taken up with renovating the house and clearing our block of land and also building the studio.

This view (top photo) is from the bush below the studio, the sculpture was done in Adelaide, and I couldn't resist bringing it with me, the view from the studio window is fantastic, and almost like looking in to a McCubbin painting.

My problem will be, to stop looking out the window and actually produce some work!

Natural Selection

2009-09-27T17:54:00.000-07:00

This is a recent painting, it's just over 1 meter in width, oil on canvas. This will be my last posting for a few weeks as I am moving to Victoria from South Australia. I will need to set up a new internet account, I will also be having a new email address, so much to do and so little time! I'm hoping to setup my own Studio/Gallery 5 kms from a beautiful town called Daylesford. I'm building a studio and it should be up and running about April next year.

Man on Horse

2009-08-23T19:34:00.000-07:00

This is a photo of a painting did about 10 years ago. I did it to look like a George Stubbs original! It has fooled many visitors to our house. I used an oil paint cracking substance to give it some authenticity, and lots of layers of different varnishes. We have just sold our house to move to Daylesford in Victoria, the people who bought the house wanted me to include the painting in the sale, which I did. It's about 1 meter 20 cm in width.

Across the universe

2009-08-23T19:26:00.000-07:00

A recent nest painting that I had on display at the Cathedral. The red in real life is slightly darker in tone, more of a Japanese red.

Jo side on

2009-08-23T19:23:00.000-07:00

A drawing completed last week at our groovy life drawing session. I like the profile on this one.

Grapes2

2009-08-23T19:17:00.001-07:00

I enjoyed painting grapes 1 so I have tried another one with a different coloured background.

Exhibition

2009-08-23T19:12:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photos of my recent exhibition at the St Peters Cathedral in Adelaide.

extra-terrestrial

2009-08-17T22:19:00.000-07:00

Oil on canvas, 1 meter x 1 meter. Notice the trade mark little beetle on the leaf on the left. Thank you bloggers! I'll add some more things next week.

Celine, side view

2009-08-17T22:13:00.000-07:00

I like the way the model's toe curls around her ankle, and the spontaneous marks make this a dynamic drawing. It is about 70 cms or so in depth, so a fairly large drawing. Anyone interested in purchasing it, send me an email.

Celine, back view

2009-08-17T22:07:00.001-07:00

Another drawing completed at the life session. This would have been a 10 minute pose, which is long enough to make the marks necessary. Any longer and I would get too fiddly!!

Beth

2009-08-17T22:00:00.001-07:00

This drawing was completed last week at our groovy life drawing session!! I loved this pose, and knew straight away it would make a nice drawing. The pastel that I used left a lovely texture on the paper. Also it was an unusual colour to select, but it seemed to work nicely.

Drifter

2009-08-17T21:54:00.000-07:00

This painting was completed recently and was part of my exhibition at the St Peters Cathedral. It's oil on canvas, 1 meter by 1 meter.

Fragments

2009-08-17T21:45:00.001-07:00

This is a painting that was completed in 05. I made the image from various objects and items lying around the studio. It's 1 meter in width, it's oil on canvas.

Space Ship

2009-07-29T20:43:00.001-07:00

I have been selling a few of my larger nest paintings recently, which is good one way but leaves me short of work to display at my upcoming SALA exhibition. So, this is a new one fresh off the brush. It is 1m x 1m. It has a Japanese impressionist feel with some calligraphic brush strokes.

Grapes

2009-07-29T20:33:00.001-07:00

Oil on canvas, 400 x 350 mm. This would make a really nice image for a wine label. If there's anyone out there with friends in the industry, send them my way! This painting is available for purchase, email me for details.

Still life; apple and pears

2009-07-29T20:28:00.001-07:00

This is a recent painting, it's one of my favourites. It was an easy painting, in as far as it happened very quickly, just fell off the brush in about an hour. I hope you like it as much as I do.

Still life with three pears

2009-07-29T20:23:00.001-07:00

I quite like the mysterious presence of the objects against the dark background.

Lemon and Chinese vase

2009-07-29T20:20:00.000-07:00

I did this painting recently and was interested in the reflection of the yellow in the lemon onto the stone texture of the vase. It's only a small painting, about 300mm wide.

Welcome to my blog

2009-07-14T20:04:00.000-07:00

If you are visiting this site as a result of seeing my ad in the Australian Art Collector Magazine, thank you for making the effort. When I paint something, I'm interested in bringing out the essential beauty in everyday objects. I'm a traditionalist, I'm not out to make smart comments, political stands or shock the community, I just love painting, I do hope you enjoy looking at my work.

A lot of the paintings shown have already sold or are on show in galleries interstate.

However if you are a collector and are interested in purchasing something, email me and let me know the genre that interests you: 1. Nests 2. Still Life 3. Life Drawings. I would then send you a PDF of available works with a price indication. Only genuine enquiries please.

Sighting

2009-07-14T19:54:00.000-07:00

This is a large piece, over 1 meter in width. This work is available for sale, if it interests you, email me for a price.

Cauliflower

2009-07-14T19:39:00.001-07:00

Another painting, using the same cauliflower in the picture below. It tasted just as good as it looks! This will also go up at the Cathedral exhibition.

Kitchen Table

2009-07-14T19:35:00.001-07:00

A new still life, to go on display at the Adelaide Cathedral as part of the SALA exhibition. It's oil on canvas, and about 60 cms in width.

Tree (sold.)

2009-07-14T19:09:00.001-07:00

This is a small painting completed about 5 years ago. It sits in a little corner of the studio, all neglected and alone! If anyone is interested it's yours for $50.00 + postage, to the first person that contacts me. Go for it!!

Fruit and Ginger Jar

2009-06-28T19:53:00.000-07:00

Another painting of this little ginger jar, done on the weekend. It is oil on canvas and measures about 350 x 230 mm. This painting will be part of the up-coming SALA exhibition at St Peters Cathedral, Adelaide - open from August 14th - August 16th - come if you can!!

looking for clues.

2009-06-16T19:23:00.001-07:00

keeping it simple, small painting oil on canvas, 26c.m. x 26.c.m.I like the central full on, layout, not what anyone would teach you, but it has an air of mystery about it, you will notice my display of nest paintings at Hunt Leather as you scroll down the page, they have sold 2 works so far, with another two weeks to go before they change the display, so only 3 left for any keen art loving bloggers in Sydney, so go to it!!

Apples from the Garden

2009-06-14T23:29:00.001-07:00

Another painting, a result of cold damp weather locking me in the studio. Hope you like it - if anyone has any comments, I would love to hear from you. Don't be shy!

3 Degrees of Light

2009-06-14T23:20:00.000-07:00

I have just used this painting in an advertisement in the new edition of the Australian Art Collector Magazine. It is on display at the New Hampton (Without Pier Gallery) in Melbourne. It's only a small painting, it has a beautiful gold frame. You can contact Richard Watson, gallery manager, on (03) 9598 5006. If it's still available, he would put a hold on it for you. Snap it up!

Still Life with Pumpkin and Apples

2009-06-14T23:13:00.001-07:00

A new little painting, produced last weekend. It's the middle of winter here in South Australia, drizzling with rain and only 10 degrees C, which was great - I was able to spend my time in the studio without the guilts!

Poster for exhibition

2009-06-14T22:22:00.001-07:00

This is an A4 poster to go with my exhibition at Hunt Leather.

New Old Nest! (SOLD)

2009-06-09T21:55:00.001-07:00

I have lightened the background of this picture, It is done in oils, ( most of the backgrounds to my large nest paintings are done on acrylic.) it has improved the look of the painting generally, and while I was at it, I added some colourful highlights here and there, no one else would notice, but you have to do what you have to do!!

Illustration Promotion

2009-06-09T21:39:00.001-07:00

This a little promotion I did recently to give my illustration work a plug, we just emailed it around, I'm tempted to have them printed at Ai size to get the impact I would like, the headline will mean nothing to most overseas visitors to my blog site, it was a phrase used a few times by our Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to gee up the workforce!!

On Display

2009-06-01T20:54:00.001-07:00

My paintings (5 of them) have just gone on display at Hunt Leather, a prestigious leather goods store in Sydney, at the MLC Centre, right in the heart of Sydney. If you live in the area, go in and have a look! And even better, purchase one! It will be on show until the end of this month.

Pumkin and grapes.

2009-05-24T19:17:00.001-07:00

this is a new painting, 21cm x21cm, oil on canvas, the photo isn't as good as the original, I may re-shoot it later, if I have time, but then who ever has spare time! let me know your comments.

Fallen Nest

2009-05-21T23:02:00.001-07:00

This is a relatively new painting on my favourite theme. It's a meter wide and around 700mm deep. Oil on canvas. I look forward to your comments.

Model turning to the right.

2009-05-20T20:16:00.001-07:00

the following drawings measure almost a meter in hight, and are on good quality offset paper,

anyone interested in purchasing one please email me, I can post it to anywhere in the world, rolled in a tube, make me an offer!

back view.

2009-05-20T20:07:00.001-07:00

I forgot my own drawing materials, so I borrowed a friends charcoal, (thanks Paul.)it has a softer quality than pastel, but I like the freedom it gives and it stops me making the blacks too dark.

Celine in blue

2009-05-20T19:55:00.000-07:00

Our new drawing group has started, we used to go to the local art school, but a new CEO wanted to change things such as, no music, and that a supervisor would be taking charge, etc, etc, so we all walked out and have now organised our own drawing group, so here are the results from last night.

Two new still life paintings.

2009-05-19T00:33:00.000-07:00

Another couple of still life paintings. I will be having an exhibition at the Adelaide Cathedral as part of the South Australian Living Artists Week (SALA) with three other artists. The Cathedral is pretty big, so I must get a lot done to fill the allotted space. If anyone is interested in making some comments, don't be shy please enter into the fun!! And speak to me.

Chinese vase and lemons

2009-05-19T00:25:00.000-07:00

Hi fellow Bloggers! Sorry I haven't been very active in adding pictures recently. Like many other artists, I'm trying to surf the Global Financial Crisis without falling off my board! Hope you like this little picture. It is 25 cm x 25 cm, oil on canvas.

3 Apples

2009-05-05T00:12:00.001-07:00

Here's a new painting, oil on canvas, completed a few weeks ago, I will be posting more images up over the next day or so, watch this space, bloggers!

Arrabella

2009-04-28T20:14:00.000-07:00

This is a portrait of my beautiful granddaughter, Arrabella. She was in the studio, so I requested she sit on the chair next to my easel and asked her to keep as still as possible! the process of making the painting was around half an hour. It was at the limits of her patience! Can you spot the difference between the two images? I took out the heavy line under the chin and the dark line on her hair parting, and a couple of other minor adjustments. The following day, a friend saw it and has requested I paint her grandchildren and daughter-in-law. I'll let you know what happens (pressure!!).

Space Walk.

2009-04-08T21:34:00.001-07:00

This painting will go in the Balmain art show, later this year, (Nov 2009.) try to get along to

see it, along with Orbiter, one of my larger nests.

Nest Painting

2009-03-25T23:12:00.000-07:00

This painting will be destined to hang in an exhibition for SALA (South Australian Living Artists) at St Peters Cathedral later in the year.

Arrangement with Protea

2009-03-25T23:05:00.000-07:00

This painting has been sitting in the corner of my office since '04. I liked it at the time, I still think it has some merit and I might pursue this kind of layout in some future pictures.

Quadrata - SOLD

2009-03-25T23:00:00.001-07:00

Another new painting, the background effect was a new experiment for me. It was almost good enough to leave as it was without the nest! But then, Jackson Pollock has already done this! I struggled a little bit with the weave of the canvas, it needed another coat of gesso to prime the canvas and fill in the little craters between the weave. It's a meter by a meter.

Voyager 2. SOLD.

2009-03-23T23:32:00.000-07:00

I sent the first painting called Voyager to an exhibition in New South Wales, the Bell Gallery. I liked it so much I have done something similar here. Although in real life, in detail they are very different. I've included a beautiful little beetle that you can't pick up on this low resolution image.

Study of a nest on a ledge. (sold)

2009-03-23T23:27:00.001-07:00

I haven't posted anything up for a while, so I have taken the camera out and photographed a couple of new paintings. This one has a very shiny coat of old fashioned varnish on it. In real life, I like to see a sheen on a painting. But of course it's hard to photograph! This painting is about 60 cms in width, I will put a gold frame on it in a traditional manner.

Alice

2009-03-02T20:51:00.001-08:00

A new drawing from last Thursday, I loved this pose (15 minutes) Hope you like it!

Voyager

2009-03-02T19:20:00.001-08:00

Just completed this weekend, this could end up being one of my favorite nest paintings. It has an almost religious feel to it, the way it floats in space. The title is very apt and seems to suit the painting.

Time Traveler - SOLD

2009-03-02T19:10:00.000-08:00

A new painting just over 1m x. This will be going on exhibition soon in NSW, Australia. The painting will be sold at around AU $2,000.00 but the beetle shown will be totally free of charge!

New - The Nest Series booklet. SOLD OUT.

2009-03-02T19:02:00.005-08:00

To get your copy of this beautiful little booklet that features many coloured reproductions of the nest paintings, the booklet would be signed and numbered (strictly limited edition) We can post it to you anywhere in the world, simply email me at rroberts@chariot.net.au with your postal address and number required maximum 4 per person. The cost is AU $25.00 + postage. Cheque, money order or paypal accepted.

Vineyard Nest

2009-02-24T18:29:00.001-08:00

This little painting was completed a couple of weeks ago. It's 61 cm x 51 cms, oil on canvas. I found the nest in one of the old vines about 50 meters from my studio, it would be nice if it was purchased by a local wine maker, we shall see! I have no control over the destination of my paintings (first come, first served!)

John

2009-02-24T17:23:00.001-08:00

The new term of life drawing has just started - Whoop-e-doo!

it's great to catch up with all my arty-farty friends, drink lots of wine and talk lots of bull s*@t.

Tiny Dancer

2009-02-11T18:23:00.001-08:00

I have had this little nest for about a year, I think it's a wren's nest. With lots of tiny fluffy grasses. While painting this I was listening to Elton John's 'Tiny Dancer' and thought this title would suit the painting. This painting measures 50 cm x 40 cm.

Nest on a Ledge 2

2009-02-04T20:34:00.000-08:00

This is a new painting, completed on the weekend. I will include this one in my new booklet. When It's completed I will let you all know.

Reflections on the Nest Series.

2009-02-04T16:43:00.000-08:00

An obvious question to ask about Roger Roberts’ Nest paintings is ‘what do they mean?’ I’m inclined to see them as formalist exercises, rather than as primarily symbolic or representational. That is not to say that these closely observed nests are without meaning beyond their decorative appearance. I think what most clearly distinguishes them from the merely decorative, and what shows they are not just the pastime of a bird lover, is the magnified scale of each depicted nest, and the way it is set in some larger, often much larger, abstract colour space.

So my own direction of interpreting these paintings is formalist. Once an artist has completed a work, however, he cannot expect to control the interpretations other people put on it. At the same time, these interpreters will want to feel that they have insights into the artist’s own true motivations, even if those motivations are unconscious ones. Roger tells the story of how a visitor to his exhibition suggested that the dark interior of the nest in his Nest Series #4 compels a focussing of attention and produces a mandala effect. What makes this interpretation plausible is that, according to Carl Jung’s ideas about such matters, it need not have been any part of Roger’s conscious intention—he need not even have known what a mandala is. Herbert Read, the poet and political anarchist who became one of the most influential art theorists of the twentieth century, tells of a certain “apocalyptic experience” that changed his life. Among many hundreds of children’s drawings that he had collected in his research he came across an image drawn by a five-year-old girl which she had called “Snake around the World and a Boat”. Read was deeply moved when he recognised the circular segmented image to be a mandala—the ancient symbol of psychic unity that is universally found in prehistoric and primitive art, and in all the cultures of history (1). He saw it as proof of his friend Carl Jung’s theories about archetypal imagery. The book Read wrote in 1943 in consequence of this revelation, his Education Through Art, set the course of art education in Britain and Australia in the second half of the twentieth century. The visitor who saw Roger’s nests as mandalic was not wrong, he was only showing Roger how his searching might be guided by senses he doesn’t know are within him.

Such Jungian ideas are not the ones that most immediately come to my mind when I look at Roger Roberts’ Nest paintings, but I do think there is good reason to seek out interpretations that Roger himself may not have consciously thought of. A lifetime of active looking and thinking about imagery are factors that weigh in his decision making. I am inclined to think he is more influenced by twentieth century styles of abstract art than the ornithological naturalism of his images would lead one to expect. Each new painting involves choices that are only partly directed by its subject—i.e. the contingencies of each new-found nest. The paintings range between the naturalism of a seventeenth century Dutch still life, and a kind of abstraction reminiscent of an Adolph Gottlieb. In the most extreme abstractions the background is a field of colour with no hint of cast shadow; the distance is not so much infinite as it is indeterminate. In these works, too, there is no sense of orientation; perhaps we are looking down on the nest from above, but there is really no up, down, or sideways remaining in the abstract space of the painting. In these most abstract works the format is square and the nest is centrally placed. In the still life versions the format may be rectangular, the nest may be off-centre and it is seen obliquely, casting its shadow on the field of colour. In these paintings we can the nest as having weight, and we are given a sense of the physical forces that will cause it to disintegrate. The interwoven twigs and debris of the carefully observed nests are reminiscent of the overlapping skeins of dribbled paint in a Jackson Pollock. With Roger’s paintings, however, we have the sense of the instinctive work of some earlier avian maker having worked painstakingly to generate a pattern. Roger, as a conscious and deliberative artist, can only follow, though with his own deliberated modifications and ‘improvements’.

As Roger works his way through the changes and variations of the Nest paintings we might expect the idea to be gradually exhausted, so that some other subject, or some quite different approach, comes into his view. After a long career working as a designer meeting his clients’ demands, Roger is venturing into a career as an artist in which he has to meet the demands of his own criticism. I suspect that, as he takes his art more and more seriously, he is going to find himself facing a more demanding critic than he ever had before.

Dr Alan Lee

(1) David Thistlewood, Herbert Read: Formlessness and Form (1984), p. 112.

nest on yellow.

2009-02-02T23:17:00.001-08:00

Hi friends, and fellow bloggers!, this is my new painting for this week, I have another two on the easel that are near completion, I cant wait to finish them and post them up, I'm also in the middle of producing a little booklet with about 20 or so of my favorite nest images, it will be for sale, just to cover postage, etc, ( not to make me rich!!) more about that later.

'What bird is that.?'

2009-01-29T17:07:00.000-08:00

This painting was done the other week, it's oil on canvas, and is 51 cm x 41 cm, I am trying to be a little less fussy with my brush strokes and give it a sense of spontaneity, hope you like it, please leave any comments, it's 44 degrees Celsius here in South Australia at the moment, a result no doubt of global warming, we seem to be breaking records for heat, each successive year, keep cool!!

Whirl Pool

2009-01-28T16:56:00.000-08:00

This painting was done around the same time as the one below, it's large - about 1 meter wide. Both this one and the one below are available for sale, email me for details. Both are unframed, Oil on canvas.

Natures Table 2

2009-01-28T16:48:00.000-08:00

This painting was completed just before Christmas, it's 77 cm x 50 cm. Oil on canvas, showing a collection of eucalypt leaves etc found around the studio, leading the eye into the nest.

Across the Universe

2009-01-26T21:25:00.001-08:00

I took this photo with my new camera. I'm finding it difficult to get rid of the flare that happens on the black surface - I didn't use the flash on this. I'm hoping I can come to grips with the technicalities of this new camera. Any tips?

Across the Universe (sold)

2009-01-10T18:55:00.000-08:00

The painting shown above with the black background was a commissioned artwork. It's 120cm x 120cm and is due for delivery to the collector after my holiday in NSW this week.

While on holiday in Sydney, I visited an old friend who had purchased the painting above. It was nicely displayed which was great to see.

SOLD - Nature's Table

2009-01-06T22:24:00.000-08:00

This small painting was completed for a client in Sydney. I'm enjoying depicting fallen leaves and found objects that make it to my studio from the abundant vegetation surrounding the studio.

My Studio

2009-01-04T16:52:00.000-08:00

And here are some further images of the studio and garden. My son, James who works in Sydney making corporate videos and TV commercials took them. He certainly has a good eye when it comes to photography.

My Studio

2009-01-04T16:44:00.003-08:00

I thought it would be a good idea to post up some photos of my studio and surroundings. I've had a number of enquiries regarding methods of working, materials etc. So by posting up these images it may give an insight into the size of my paintings and the way I set up my still life.

Yellow and Orange

2008-12-15T19:02:00.000-08:00

I like the geometric shape of the pumpkin and the way it changes the colour of the lemon. The colour of a pumpkins skin is also fascinating being a grey-blue mix.

The Blue Feather

2008-12-10T22:15:00.000-08:00

This is a new nest painting,I believe it's complete but I never think they are finished, I always want to add one more piece of detail. But I'm going to resist this time and leave it as it is.
The size is 1m x 1m, it has a pale blue background.

SOLD - Ochre and Red

2008-12-08T17:39:00.000-08:00

Another little still life painting using my favorite proportions. My assistant Lauren is going to check out ebay and we will add some of my smaller paintings and offer them for sale. Watch this space for updated news.

Golden Summer

2008-12-01T21:05:00.001-08:00

Another still life. I was interested in making a picture work with a very limited colour palette, and also making the objects emerge out of a dark background, giving an air of mystery.

SOLD.Fresh Lemons

2008-11-30T21:47:00.003-08:00

Some friends came over for dinner on Saturday night and brought with them a beautiful basket of lemons, from their trees, so I couldn't help myself, the next day,I needed to paint them, (with a mild hangover, I might add!! ) hope you enjoy the result, email me for any comments, as long as they are positive of course!!

Three objects on a shelf

2008-11-27T16:41:00.003-08:00

I painted this little still life recently. I like the subtle blue colour that's emerging out the shadows. I'm going to take some photos of my studio and show how I set up my still life arrangement, on a precarious pyramid of chairs and tables to get them at the correct eye level.

Still life with egg plant

2008-11-24T19:41:00.000-08:00

I completed this little painting over the weekend. It's 310 mm x 150 mm. What interested me most was the beautiful reflective surface of the eggplant.