Only a surfer knows the feeling

I remember the first time I was seriously barrelled when I was surfing at the Bluff in Western Australia. It was such a thrill, as I weaved through the deep hollow section of the wave and safely emerging out at the end of the wave.  I felt like I had passed an initiation and was now a true surfer. It was an awesome experience!
Now, 22 years later, my latest painting covers these surfing themes. I was inspired by a photo in an old surfing magazine of a Billabong sponsored surfer, Dave Rastovich. I loved the colours and the expression on the surfers face, and thought it caught the action and excitement of the tube ride.  So I put paint to canvas to produce this latest masterpiece.

Here is a collection of work in progress photos, so you can see my approach to tackling this ambitious project.

Winter Valley

Here is one of my latest works. It is the first time I have gone about doing a painting with no vision in mind. I just let the painting take me where it wanted to go. It ended up being a frozen winter valley. I quite like how it turned out. I think it captures mood and surrealism rather than realism.

You can purchase this painting at http://turningtide.bigcartel.com/product/winter-valley

The Prom

Here is what I have been working on. Earlier in the year, I took the family on a getaway to Wilson's Promontory where we enjoyed the beaches and bushwalking for  a few wonderful days.
This painting was inspired by  a photo I took during one of the hikes I took the kids on. The painting doesn't really do justice to the true beauty of the wilderness.

Piping Hot

As I was running around during my day job (as a courier), I was thinking about the next subject I could paint, and I kept on thinking about a bright sunset with a surfer silhouetted in the foreground.  Today I woke up and watched the World Championship Tour surfing event at Tavarau Fiji, with beautiful barreling waves and my inspiration was complete for this latest painting.

You can purchase this online at http://turningtide.bigcartel.com/product/piping-hot#

An evening on the Prom

My latest oil painting is inspired by an evening walk with my daughter along the beautiful beach at Tidal River at Wilsons Promontary in Victoria.
I have included photos of the painting process to give some insight into how the painting progressed.
I seem to be drawn to sunsets, and I love to try and capture even a few percent of the true beauty and majesty of the real thing.

project instagram

I have recently been doing quick and small paintings of my instagram photos I have taken on my iPhone.
I thought it would be a good way to practice painting and give a variety of challenges to myself, with the end result being that I would improve my artistic skills.
Here is what I have done so far.

If you want to follow me on instagram my user name is @lytesyde

Perfect Break

I have come to realise that the most abstract subject is reality itself.  I mean, throughout nature there is so much in the way of patterns and imagery that make fascinating subjects for an artist to be inspired from.
This latest art project I have been doing is a set of three canvases that when put together, reveal a scene of swell lines approaching a shoreline and breaking in an almost perfect pattern on the beach. I have used only black, grey and white to emphasise the patterns created by the waves.
This work is for sale at  http://turningtide.bigcartel.com/product/perfect-break