natural earth palette

Researching the history, properties and provenance of natural earth colours forged unexpected connections between my new work and the work of artists going back centuries. Focussing more on the materiality of my practice inspired me to make my own paint.

TERRA D’OMBRA 

2026 AOTEAROA ART FAIR

30 April - 3 May 2026

Auckland Events Centre, courtesy of Black Door Gallery

Terra D’Ombra is Italian name for Burnt Umber, which translated literally as “shadow land”. Umber was originally made from clay found in Umbria and used widely from Renaissance times.

BURNT OFFERINGS

Muse Art Gallery

7 July - 6 Aug 2026

ARTIST STATEMENT

At the start of 2026, there was a workshop fire outside my studio. The wreckage looked like something out of Gaza. I was struck by the awesome beauty of it all. The steel struts that had once held the roof were weirdly twisted, standing in testament to the intensity of the blaze.

I gathered some of the charcoal from the fire site, ground it and mixed if with binder medium to make a thick black paint. I was pleased with how it blended with the earth tones and added another level of meaning to the painting.