Nat Ward

In my series GLOW I explore the luminosity of wattle in spring, set against the cool blues and greys of the eucalypts on Nail Can Hill. The dynamic contrast between these colours becomes a way of amplifying light — the yellow blooms seeming to hum against the subdued tones of the bush.

Drawing on elements of Divisionism, I build the surface through small, responsive marks that create a pulse or vibration of light across the canvas. I am interested in painterly contrasts — warm and cool, density and air, presence and understatement — and in the curious, often overlooked forms that reveal themselves through sustained attention.

Each part of the surface is considered and worked, honouring the complexity of the environment. Through this attentiveness, the paintings seek to embody both the energy and the quiet intricacy of the spring landscape.
Artist Statement - Nat Ward