The pioneer 1904

Frederick McCubbin made this large triptych called 'The Pioneer' with oil on canvas. It’s interesting the way the pale greens and browns are layered, almost like veils, building depth. Look closely at the surface – it’s not about a slick finish, but about how the paint is applied, dabbed, and blended. I think of my own process, how each layer informs the next, a conversation between colors and textures. Take the central panel, with the couple standing amidst the trees. The paint is thin, allowing the canvas to breathe through, but there is some impasto, particularly on the woman's dress. It gives the impression of light filtering through the leaves, and it echoes the fragility of their situation. Each section has this quality which relates to the others through colour and tone. It reminds me a bit of Corot, but with an Australian twist. Like the best art, it’s an invitation to look closer, to wander through its layers and find our own stories within.