Scaling a Feeling: a commission story
- May 10
- 1 min read
After discovering one of my smaller ocean-inspired works (76 x 76 cms) during the Mosman Art Walk, the clients were interested in commissioning a much larger piece: 250 × 150 cm, to capture the same atmosphere and movement on a more immersive scale
We refined what they were responding to.
Movement
Calm
Colour choices
Texture
Feeling
Moving from a 76 cm piece to a 250 × 150 cm canvas isn’t just about size, it’s about presence.
. They wanted something that captured the feeling of being near the ocean, rather than describing it literally.
Tools need to be sized up to work larger and I found myself reaching for sponges, rollers, palette knives and my hands in favour of
brushes.
Lots of texture, energy and various shades of blue
At this scale, the painting needs space to breathe: contrasting energy with areas of calm. White washes move across deeper tones, suggesting the energy of water without fixing it in place. Drips form naturally, pulling the eye downward and grounding the movement.
The finished work, Field of Ocean, is immersive.
At 250 × 150 cm, it doesn’t sit quietly in a room, it holds space. From a distance, it reads as calm and expansive. Up close, the textures and marks reveal a more dynamic, shifting surface.
It’s not a literal depiction of the ocean. It's a memory. A feeling. A presence.
The aim is always the same for me: to create a work where your eye can wander freely, discovering something new each time. I want the viewer's eyes to move around the entire canvas, not just a linger on a focal point.
