Michael
Jones

Over the years, l have used many media, pencil, coloured pencils, charcoal, pastels, oil paint, water colour, gouache and acrylic paint. I find acrylics best suit my application, l do work quickly and like to work in layers, so you will find me with flow formula paint on the wet palette, a wet brush in my right hand and having a hair drier in my left hand… Even though l live in a very dry climate…average 10% humidity…the paint doesnt seem to dry quick enough for me..

Over the years l have entertained different concepts to paint, which usually reflect where l am living at the time. I used to have a studio/gallery in tasmania, so l painted Tassy theme. I have lived on the Sunshine Coast, where l developed a couple of characters, Bill and Sheila, who live in a tiny caravan next to the sea. These paintings of Bill and Sheila have found themselves into a book, called…"But…You Said Yellow!" The paintings which l am working on now are mostly depicting the outback, creek crossings, gum trees in dry creeks, but my new series is called "The Lost Habitat" series, all are acrylic nocturns on stretched poly cotton, depicting Australian animals in unusual circumstances, a little surrealistic. The finished paintings are for a new book which l have in mind, although they will be for sale.

I have rebuilt the double garage which was on my property when l purchased it, lined it with insulation and the ceiling is also boarded with found pallet wood, so from the outside it looks no different, but inside it is like a cocoon, which encourages comfortable creativity, although, after l have been working in there for the last 7 years it has developed its own chaotic persona……but l know where everything is… l do frame my own work, so l have my own framing equipment, which takes up room, I also produce some work which is 3D, l carve in wood and make sculptures using found objects, which also need space to house the found objects and make sure the finished product doesnt deteriorate.