distant outcrop. translucent deep. driftwood and manna gum moving.
pigment over motion ocean
home
Sail with Me is an exhibition that tells many stories. Those of time and its delicate yet
dramatic unravelling and the essence of natural beauty that binds and releases.
The vibrancy and depth of Stewart Westle’s palette evokes an inherent understanding of
both physical and internal landscapes. Seductive silences are juxtaposed with energy-fuelled
brush strokes, while his expert compositional technique and deep understanding of light
and shadow results in a visual feast of organic wonder.
There are forty-five canvases of varying size in this body of work where the artist’s
unwavering commitment to understanding the place from which he grows is laid bare.
This is an artist who explores his internal terrain through exploring external surrounds.
This is an artist who is ever excited about what to paint next!
He explains: “I feel like I’m part of where I live and can’t get enough of exploring the area
and expressing my connection with it through painting. I thought about this body of work
for about a year before beginning in earnest and did many sketches and water colours. I had
painted some of the areas before – Flinders, Portsea and Sorrento - but am now starting to
see there is more to uncover.”
And uncover the magic of the region he does in Sail with Me . Canvas comes alive with
representational coastal landscapes viewed from both land and sea perspectives. He
continues: “I jumped on the ferry and what a different view! It really gave me a sense of the
textural tapestry of the work. I always paint with oil because I just don’t get acrylic and like
to paint them down flat. Work on the canvas from above. Sometimes you get to a point
where you think where is this going? Initially I found I was sketching well in my book but it
wasn’t translating onto the canvas. I was trying too hard! I’ve learnt you have to walk away
and have conversations with family or friends and not think about it.”
Stewart’s paintings always let him know what to do next and it is this silent dialogue
between painter and painting that results in the real magic. These coastal and hinterland
landscapes are sensory conversations between artist and terrain, painter and self, creator
and art lover. One ten-piece painting and multiple diptychs represent the vastness of the
region and the artist’s detailed understanding of space.
And now the painting is done?
“When I am happy with the painting, I have no trouble with them leaving, but the painting is
never done.”
For at the water’s edge the waves move in and out. Taking and giving. Always In
continuous flow.
The artist-in-residence at Police Point Shire Park
sun rising as moon hovers over ocean
where spacious quiet settles on the distant surf
dusk to dawn, dusk to dawn in the vastness of inspiration
breathe the deep and be silent in the hugeness
one dot in the landscape of this natural wonder
an authentic expression of connection
breeze blowing. boats floating. birds calling. creation flowing
Stewart Westle says he didn’t have a clock during his four-week residency at Police Point in
Portsea where walking, drawing and painting took centre stage. He didn’t feel isolated
either. He explains: “I stayed in Cottage 5 during September 2023 and spent most of the day
by myself. It was very quiet other than the birds in the park and some people heading to the
lookout. But I wasn’t lonely. I had an idea of what I wanted to express before I got there, but
it was incredibly satisfying being immersed in the environment and gave me a real sense of
the landscape and the subtle differences within it.”
The Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Police Point Artist in Residence Program has been in
operation for more than five years with over one hundred Australian and international
artists participating. For Stewart, the residency gave him much more than insight into
terrain outside the studio’s window and the inspiration to paint it. Rising each day to the
natural rhythm of land, sea and sky as the odd ship sailed by, the artist became one with his
surrounds which is stunningly reflected in this body of work. Sail with Me is the tip of the
Mornington Peninsula in all its natural glory. Sail with Me is a comprehensive understanding
of time and tide, colour and translucence, energy and art-in-action intuition.
He continues: “I painted all day every day other than taking a walk and eating. The Shire
organised a couple of ‘outing days’ with interested parties and we had lunch back at the
studio after exploring the area. I learned just as much from those people as they did from
me! There were so many great artists. Then there were the young local people who visited
via Jimmy’s Youth Wellbeing Sanctuary in Rosebud. I introduced them to the area as an
artistic mentor. It was an absolute joy to be part of it and am deeply grateful to the Shire for
giving me the opportunity.”
Set sail through the beauty of the Mornington Peninsula from Flinders to Sorrento with this
well-respected Mornington Peninsula artist. The magnificence of our region is waiting for
you.
EXHIBITION OPENING
11am - 3pm Saturday & Sunday March 16 & 17, 2024
Manyung Gallery Art & Design
6/35 Progress Street, Mornington
exhibition runs until March 28
For artwork enquiries or to request a preview catalogue, please contact ellie@manyunggallery.com.au or text 0413 468 917