Things have taken an unexpected and brilliant turn lately. I visited the National Gallery of Victoria to see a show of Rembrandt works, austere and wonderful. I prepared to leave, but there was another show across the hall that called, like a siren: Pierre Bonnard. Primed with artistic inspiration, I was completely blown away.

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The show, ceiling to floor was drenched in colour and life and my heart filled like a starving flower leaning to the light. I had no idea! Of course, I have loved Monet, Cezanne, Casset, and other Impressionists, but being denied visitation rights by the appalling and unmentionable Paris (those close to me know the story behind my undying rage for the city), I have never seen any of them in the canvasy flesh. And probably never will now.But this! I feel like a light has been switched on inside - like Dorothy opening the door to a world of colour. His light and colourfilled compositions are a revelation, a rebirth. My mind is occupied with nothing but image after image of paintings I must make, sometimes keeping me awake and driving me to emotional exhaustion. One moment everything is orange, then pink, then red! It is wonderful, frightening and untried ground, and the experimental nature of my works show it.

 

I hope you will forgive the artistic failings and see them as I do - as a new beginning, and let them brighten your day as they do mine.