FIRST BY 4 (2017)
‘First by 4’ was the name of a group exhibition held in 2017 at the Balmain Watch House in Sydney. Exhibiting artists were Nita Lewis, Jo Martin, Nicole Miranda and Nina Paine.
I really enjoy painting images from the built environment – perhaps it’s a hidden desire to have been an architect, but perhaps it’s no more than escapism, a chance for my mind to wander, to places I’ve been and places I’d still like to go. It’s an opportunity to dream, and who doesn’t enjoy dreaming?
Soon after I started painting, it was doors in particular (and windows to a lesser extent) that I found so alluring. It made sense, therefore, that doors would be my focus for ‘First by 4’ – the first exhibition I took part in. It is said that a person’s eyes are the window to their soul, so perhaps a door is the window to the heart – the heart of a structure, be it a home, a gallery, a church or a restaurant, a hotel or even a prison. A door can offer a hint of what’s beating within. But only a hint. Just as the face a person presents to the public may give nothing away of what’s going on in that person’s life, doors too can hide a multitude of secrets.
Unless noted otherwise, the paintings below are available for purchase. Please drop me an email.
Blue Door III - SOLD
Image area 152 x 212 mm
Blue Door V - SOLD
Image area 152 x 212 mm
Blue Door VI - SOLD
Image area 152 x 212 mm
blue door II - SOLD
Image area 152 x 212 mm
blue door iv - na
Blue Door I - SOLD
Image area 152 x 212 mm
hunter’s door
Image area 152 x 210 mm
out west - SOLD
Image area 152 x 212 mm
joe’s door, cockatoo island - SOLD
Image area 152 x 210 mm
anh’s door, surry hills - NA
beyond the door - na
green door - sold
overgrown - sold
historical gaol cells of cook, nullarbor plain, sa
Image area 212 x 152 mm
balmain watch house I - SOLD
balmain watch house II - sold
neighbour to the star - sold
solitary confinement, cockatoo island
(doors of sydney’s past, triptych top) - sold
carriageworks, eveleigh
(doors of sydney’s past, triptych, centre) - sold
the coal loader, waverton
(doors of sydney’s past, triptych, bottom) - sold
in a paris courtyard - sold
sue’s door, woodstock, england - sold
doors of new mexico series
TAOS III, NEW MEXICO (pictured left)
DONATED TO ST IVES PRIMARY SCHOOL
This painting was donated to St Ives Primary School and auctioned at their November 2019 trivia night to help raise funds to upgrade the school hall air conditioning and to create new spaces to inspire and support the students in their learning.
Image area 190 x 280 mm
About the Doors of New Mexico series …
New Mexico (known as the Land of Enchantment), and perhaps Santa Fe and Taos in particular, are something of a haven for creative souls.
For me, the appeal was twofold: I was first drawn to the architecture, where the basic earth-tone style blends the construction techniques long used by the Pueblo Indians with those brought by the Spanish settlers; and then the abundance of blue doors, striking in their brilliance alongside the soft-toned and gently sculpted adobe walls. These doors were believed to have prevented evil spirits from entering a home, although today they’re just as likely to be a sign of welcome.
santa fe IV, new mexico - SOLD
Image area 190 x 280 mm
doors of new mexico card set
Six of the eight ‘Doors of New Mexico’ paintings in this series have been reproduced to make greeting cards (blank inside).
These are available for purchase individually ($4 each + postage) or a pack containing all six ($20 + postage).
NICOLE MIRANDA, NITA LEWIS, NINA PAINE AND JO MARTIN
Exhibition over! 2017