What I like about your paintings and the above drawings is the familiar strangeness of the animals you portray. The 1790 drawings are similar–often de-contextualised appearance on an otherwise blank page of animals not yet classified or named by whites. Their inaccurate forms say much about the utter unfamiliarity of artist with that animal. The drawing of the wombat is a case in point—foreign (European) eyes looking at animals the’ve never seen or experienced before, and therefore making those animals foreign also, while trying to accurately record them. (Were they drawing stuffed ones?)
I also like the simplicity of your paintings, presented almost as a scientific drawing of these endangered animals. Hope we don’t lose them. If we do, they too will become lost to history.
Hi Bette,
Thanks very much. I hadn’t seen the images on that link. I love the wombat and the self-possession in the eyes of all the creatures.
Your phrase ‘familiar strangeness’ is interesting.
I drew the works from images in Fred Ford’s book ‘Gould’s Extinct and Endangered Mammals of Australia’ published in 2014.
If you like I can send you the catalogue from the exhibition they were in – A Covenant with the Animals.
Stephanie Radok 
Hi Stephanie,
I really like your paintings of Australian animals. They remind me of very early drawings of the same. You may have already seen these: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3698628/Fascinating-drawings-1790-capture-Australia-s-wildlife.htm
What I like about your paintings and the above drawings is the familiar strangeness of the animals you portray. The 1790 drawings are similar–often de-contextualised appearance on an otherwise blank page of animals not yet classified or named by whites. Their inaccurate forms say much about the utter unfamiliarity of artist with that animal. The drawing of the wombat is a case in point—foreign (European) eyes looking at animals the’ve never seen or experienced before, and therefore making those animals foreign also, while trying to accurately record them. (Were they drawing stuffed ones?)
I also like the simplicity of your paintings, presented almost as a scientific drawing of these endangered animals. Hope we don’t lose them. If we do, they too will become lost to history.
Best wishes,
Bette
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Hi Bette,
Thanks very much. I hadn’t seen the images on that link. I love the wombat and the self-possession in the eyes of all the creatures.
Your phrase ‘familiar strangeness’ is interesting.
I drew the works from images in Fred Ford’s book ‘Gould’s Extinct and Endangered Mammals of Australia’ published in 2014.
If you like I can send you the catalogue from the exhibition they were in – A Covenant with the Animals.
good to hear from you
Stephanie
Hi Stephanie,
Yes, please, would love the catalogue.
Gould’s book is wonderful and sad.
Hope your work and eco message do well.
Bette
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