Commute

​Commute (2025) is an experiment in mediums and a looseness with my art that I usually avoid.  You can see the organic, moving nature of the artwork in its finished form, but the relaxed choice of mediums was also something that was a goal for me. 

The reference image was given to me by a friend, Shane (pictured futhest right), who would push start their family car to drive to the nearest bus stop so that they could get to school from their rural property. The photo was taken on an old film camera, giving motion blurs and fuzzy, grainy delights that inspired how I undertook this work.

I used a mix of sanding, painting and sanding some more, then went in with some Acrylic paint and a palette knife to block out the composition and figures of the four kids. Once dried, a light pink and dark blue Posca pen went into action, once again trying not to think too hard about placement and exact-ness of where I drew and instead focussing on the feeling that the reference image evoked. The final medium applied was Oil paint, which is my place of familiarity. 

I love the way that the brain fills in so much detail looking at the youngest childs face, and the texture of small globs of paint dried around palette knife strokes.