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Gone to Atlantis (RIP Raz)
Pastel on Mi Tientes Tex (Sold)
86 cm W x 67 cm H
On February 16, 2019, Lyn ‘Raz’ Burtonwood was rostered for morning surf patrol at Lighthouse Beach, Ballina. He was a fit 69-year-old man who regularly attended the beach for his daily ocean swim. Raz jumped into the water to test the conditions, but quickly drifted down the beach. Soon other members of the surf patrol lost sight of him and immediately launched an inflatable rescue boat but could not locate him. Until light fell the search expanded to include jet skis, drones, helicopters and the SES and resumed again the following morning. The search was extensive, unfortunately, Raz was not found during the search and has not been seen since.
Raz was a well-loved schoolteacher and local identity of the area. He was affectionately known as “Salty Dog” due to his love of the ocean. His disappearance created much speculation, and it was widely “believed” he had been whisked away to the fabled undersea city of Atlantis.
I painted this montage of him, showing some of the many things he was famous for… His terrible self-created hairstyle, his crappy blue car, (which he never locked), his famous one armed “salute”, his small white dog that went everywhere with him, and of course his black speedos and yellow fins that accompanied him on his daily ocean swims. I’m very pleased to say that this portrait was purchased by a benefactor who kindly hung it in the Lighthouse Beach Café and Surf Club near Raz’s beloved beach.Gone to Atlantis (RIP Raz)
Pastel on Mi Tientes Tex (Sold)
86 cm W x 67 cm H
On February 16, 2019, Lyn ‘Raz’ Burtonwood was rostered for morning surf patrol at Lighthouse Beach, Ballina. He was a fit 69-year-old man who regularly attended the beach for his daily ocean swim. Raz jumped into the water to test the conditions, but quickly drifted down the beach. Soon other members of the surf patrol lost sight of him and immediately launched an inflatable rescue boat but could not locate him. Until light fell the search expanded to include jet skis, drones, helicopters and the SES and resumed again the following morning. The search was extensive, unfortunately, Raz was not found during the search and has not been seen since.
Raz was a well-loved schoolteacher and local identity of the area. He was affectionately known as “Salty Dog” due to his love of the ocean. His disappearance created much speculation, and it was widely “believed” he had been whisked away to the fabled undersea city of Atlantis.
I painted this montage of him, showing some of the many things he was famous for… His terrible self-created hairstyle, his crappy blue car, (which he never locked), his famous one armed “salute”, his small white dog that went everywhere with him, and of course his black speedos and yellow fins that accompanied him on his daily ocean swims. I’m very pleased to say that this portrait was purchased by a benefactor who kindly hung it in the Lighthouse Beach Café and Surf Club near Raz’s beloved beach.Quick View -
King of Fishers
Pastel on Canson paper (Sold)
50 cm W x 65 cm H
Australia has 10 native species of kingfishers, including the kookaburra, which is the largest. Kingfishers nest in tree hollows, in burrows in riverbanks and in termite nests. They feed on small animals, including fish, frogs, yabbies, snakes, insects and nestlings of other birds. Some kingfishers were once in danger of being hunted to extinction for their feathers. Despite their elaborate garb, these stocky birds are tough, and hunt by darting upon prey in a flash of colour from branches above the river or forest floor. The kingfisher’s heavy beak is the perfect tool for despatching victims quickly – they smack their hapless prey against tree branches before swallowing them whole. This small Azure Kingfisher (Alcedo azurea) is a tiny 17cm in length, with a wingspan of 25-29cm.King of Fishers
Pastel on Canson paper (Sold)
50 cm W x 65 cm H
Australia has 10 native species of kingfishers, including the kookaburra, which is the largest. Kingfishers nest in tree hollows, in burrows in riverbanks and in termite nests. They feed on small animals, including fish, frogs, yabbies, snakes, insects and nestlings of other birds. Some kingfishers were once in danger of being hunted to extinction for their feathers. Despite their elaborate garb, these stocky birds are tough, and hunt by darting upon prey in a flash of colour from branches above the river or forest floor. The kingfisher’s heavy beak is the perfect tool for despatching victims quickly – they smack their hapless prey against tree branches before swallowing them whole. This small Azure Kingfisher (Alcedo azurea) is a tiny 17cm in length, with a wingspan of 25-29cm.Quick View -
Murder
Acrylic on canvas (Sold)
122 cm W x 122 cm H
‘Murder’ was the first in my Avian series, based upon a scene that played out before me as I walked around a headland of my local beach. Torresian Crows (Corvus orru) were rising from and descending back to the Pandanus tree growing on the edge of the cliff, as the stiff wind aided their activity. The sky was gloomy and dark with an impending storm, and I thought to myself, there is a painting here begging to be actualised.Murder
Acrylic on canvas (Sold)
122 cm W x 122 cm H
‘Murder’ was the first in my Avian series, based upon a scene that played out before me as I walked around a headland of my local beach. Torresian Crows (Corvus orru) were rising from and descending back to the Pandanus tree growing on the edge of the cliff, as the stiff wind aided their activity. The sky was gloomy and dark with an impending storm, and I thought to myself, there is a painting here begging to be actualised.Quick View -
On the Watch
Ink on Arches paper (Sold)
48 cm W x 68 cm H
Kookaburras (Dacelo novaeguineae) are terrestrial tree kingfishers found in habitats ranging from humid forest to arid savannah, as well as in suburban areas with tall trees or near running water. Kookaburras are almost exclusively carnivorous, eating mice, snakes, insects, small reptiles, and the young of other birds; unlike many other kingfishers, they rarely eat fish, although they have been known to take goldfish from garden ponds. They often accept handouts and take meat from barbecues, but feeding kookaburras ground beef or pet food is not advised, as these do not include enough calcium and roughage for their health requirements.On the Watch
Ink on Arches paper (Sold)
48 cm W x 68 cm H
Kookaburras (Dacelo novaeguineae) are terrestrial tree kingfishers found in habitats ranging from humid forest to arid savannah, as well as in suburban areas with tall trees or near running water. Kookaburras are almost exclusively carnivorous, eating mice, snakes, insects, small reptiles, and the young of other birds; unlike many other kingfishers, they rarely eat fish, although they have been known to take goldfish from garden ponds. They often accept handouts and take meat from barbecues, but feeding kookaburras ground beef or pet food is not advised, as these do not include enough calcium and roughage for their health requirements.Quick View -
Parliament Sits in Judgement
Acrylic on canvas (Sold)
122 cm W x 122 cm H
Yet another in the ‘Avian’ series, these Australian Boobook Owls (Ninox boobook), derived their name from their two-tone boo-book call. In some regions known as the mopoke, they are the smallest owl native to the Australian mainland. Using a fence, branch, or telegraph pole as a perch or vantage point from which to hunt, the Australian boobook pounces on prey then retreats to a tree or elevated place to eat it. It often hunts in open areas near trees, and also where prey is likely to congregate, such as mice near haystacks or barns, or flying insects near street- or house-lights.Parliament Sits in Judgement
Acrylic on canvas (Sold)
122 cm W x 122 cm H
Yet another in the ‘Avian’ series, these Australian Boobook Owls (Ninox boobook), derived their name from their two-tone boo-book call. In some regions known as the mopoke, they are the smallest owl native to the Australian mainland. Using a fence, branch, or telegraph pole as a perch or vantage point from which to hunt, the Australian boobook pounces on prey then retreats to a tree or elevated place to eat it. It often hunts in open areas near trees, and also where prey is likely to congregate, such as mice near haystacks or barns, or flying insects near street- or house-lights.Quick View -
Pee Wee
Ink on Arches paper ($POA)
30 cm W x 23 cm H
When I used to do wildlife care, I often cared for orphaned and abandoned fledglings. Pee Wee was one of my success stories, being raised on mealworms, bugs and any other creepy crawlies I could procure for her. After she was old enough and took to the skies to go live independently, she would often return if I called out “Pee Wee” loudly enough for her to hear. This continued for several weeks before finally she never returned, presumably having made her own way into the world. Pee Wee was actually a magpie-lark, (Grallina cyanoleuca) often also known as the peewee, peewit or mudlark. The sexes are similar from a distance but easy to tell apart: the female has a white throat, the male a black throat and a white “eyebrow”.Pee Wee
Ink on Arches paper ($POA)
30 cm W x 23 cm H
When I used to do wildlife care, I often cared for orphaned and abandoned fledglings. Pee Wee was one of my success stories, being raised on mealworms, bugs and any other creepy crawlies I could procure for her. After she was old enough and took to the skies to go live independently, she would often return if I called out “Pee Wee” loudly enough for her to hear. This continued for several weeks before finally she never returned, presumably having made her own way into the world. Pee Wee was actually a magpie-lark, (Grallina cyanoleuca) often also known as the peewee, peewit or mudlark. The sexes are similar from a distance but easy to tell apart: the female has a white throat, the male a black throat and a white “eyebrow”.Quick View -
Pukeko
Pastel on Canson paper ($POA)
30 cm W x 36 cm H
Our dog was a very well behaved cattle dog who as a rule didn’t chase wildlife or birds, but there was something about the “pukeko” which drove her crazy. The Australasian swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus) is a species of swamphen occurring in eastern Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand where it is known as the pukeko. They are a handsome bird of the wetlands, Conspicuous blue and black in colour with a gigantic red bill and forehead shield. They have large feet and white under tail feathers which they flick up and down when walking. They are very vocal, often making loud crowing calls and a range of other shorter squawks, including a single note squawk at night.Pukeko
Pastel on Canson paper ($POA)
30 cm W x 36 cm H
Our dog was a very well behaved cattle dog who as a rule didn’t chase wildlife or birds, but there was something about the “pukeko” which drove her crazy. The Australasian swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus) is a species of swamphen occurring in eastern Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand where it is known as the pukeko. They are a handsome bird of the wetlands, Conspicuous blue and black in colour with a gigantic red bill and forehead shield. They have large feet and white under tail feathers which they flick up and down when walking. They are very vocal, often making loud crowing calls and a range of other shorter squawks, including a single note squawk at night.Quick View