July, 2002: I wanted to include this documented development of a major drawing, in my gallery, to show some of the thinking and work behind one of my drawings.

The finished drawing (which I called “From the Foot-Bridge Through Flinders Forest”) was entered in the Wynne Art Prize (for landscapes), organised by the Art Gallery of New South Wales at the end of May, 2002. I also entered my finished “Sugar-Berry Tree” drawing in the Dobell Art Prize (for drawing), which was run at the same time as the Wynne, Archibald, and Sulman Prizes.

Even though neither drawing was selected for hanging in the competitions, I know that they were both worthy of being so. I am very glad to have produced both of these drawings.

This drawing’s development started out on the 3rd October 2000. It was lunchtime from my job in the Flinders Medical Centre, and I was strolling along the footbridge that spans the valley of the pine forest nearby. I was trying to work out how to express the feeling of being on the bridge, floating above the forest, and the whole atmosphere of being within the forest there.

I at least jotted down some notes, and started to think seriously about how I might be able to come up with such a drawing.

“On the bridge, like flying. Curved space. Need lovely open space. How? ?? How to do? As if the bridge is not there?
3-10-00. 1:30pm.” Wide-angle view of the forest, looking northwest, and showing the footbridge.

Over the next few days I made some quick sketches of different ideas, that might take me in a suitable direction:

“3-10-00. 1:30pm.” Wide-angle view to the east, showing curved-space view of the footbridge.

“4-10-00. 1:30pm.” Curved-space view from below the footbridge.

“4-10-00. 1:30pm.” View to the northwest through trees up close on the southern end of the bridge.