Candyss Crosby
- March 20, 2020
I love the desert. One of my favourite places to paint and walk is the Larapinta Trail of the West Macdonnell Ranges just outside of Alice Springs. I also love the East Macs – not as well knon or extreme but beautiful and inspiring nevertheless. The vibrant contrasting colours occurring naturally in the Australian landscape is intense and truly magical. My paintings are not accurate or ‘authentic’ depiction of the Australian landscape but more of a reaction to it. I’ve always liked to call myself a colourist – someone who is ignited by colour. My love affair with colour started very early on in life – painting from an age when I could hold the brush in my hand. Mixing colours has always come naturally for me. I now love to share that love of colour in my work.
The ‘red centre’ of Alice Springs, Uluru, Larapinta Walk and the surrounding areas have a very different colour palette. The clean air, the bright Australian light, the sensational land against the skies, all these contrasting colours makes everything really pop. The rich mineral earth and stone, the ochre pits, the reflection of the bright skies in the waterholes, and the sunset light against huge red rock walls – all reflect a multitude of colours. I have enjoyed using irridescent pigments with my paints for years which creates many more colour possibilities similar to what I find in this rare landscape. Everywhere I look the natural intensity of colour seems richer and more vibrant in this special land.
One of my greatest enjoyments is the Artists Creative Outback adventure – a week of painting up the desert in the West and East Macdonnell Ranges.
If you’re interested to know more about the painting retreat or would like to book for the next upcoming trek please call me or email me at candysscrosby@icloud.com
