Evening Backburn Under the Ironbarks by Andy Sumner

Artist Statement

I really enjoy painting nocturnal scenes from my memory and/or imagination, and for a while have been tossing around in my head the concept of a fire sending sparks skyward to mingle with the stars.

The summer of 2020 still being fresh in my mind, it wasn’t hard to decide on an evening back-burn being lit by a volunteer fire-fighter. In doing so, I portrayed him as focusing on his task, seemingly unaware of the night-time beauty around him, watched by the silent trees and the distant grandeur of the milky way.

One thing I really love about night scenes is the opportunity to accentuate light and shadow. Not only the strong contrast of the fires themselves, but the glow and reflections they cast everywhere, along with the subtle abstract luminosity of plants & flowers.

About the Artist

Andy is a self-taught modern impressionist artist based in Canberra, Australia. Most of his works are landscapes inspired by the hills and wild places surrounding the city and the local region, though occasionally he paints scenes from memories or imagination.

He paints to intuitively express thoughts and emotions through his works, so his landscapes are notable for dramatic skies and intense use of colour. They often convey a conservationist theme, illustrating the damage done to nature yet seeking beauty and hope in what remains.

Andy also looks to explore light in all its nuances; his paintings are typically filled with brilliant ambient light and deep rich shadows. The scenes he creates are what he imagines them to be – landscapes as viewed through the prism of his soul.

His works are created with acrylic paints and inks, as his paintings are built up quickly through countless layers which necessitates a fast drying time, and acrylics allow the freedom to apply washes and tinted glazes over thicker impasto paint.

This exhibition, The Colours I Feel, is mostly inspired by Andy’s ventures into the wilds of Canberra during the autumn and winter of 2022 and 2023. He wanted to paint, not the scenes that the city is famous for, but rather the out of the way places where he found peace and inspiration.