Author Archives: jgash25

2024 Recent Artworks

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‘The Way Forward’ Acrylic painting

My painting ‘The Way Forward’ reflects my love of native birds with their abstract shapes and colours as they move throughout the Australian landscape. I am inspired by the ‘Nabi’ art movement with bold colours and abstract qualities.

In conversations with people of all ages I have noted an increased awareness and loving affinity with birds. They seem to embody spirituality, healing and joy to those protecting and growing trees and plants. Many environmentalists and land care groups are assisting with the abundance of birds within our land.

The roadside vegetations, nature reserves, parks, and backyards are vital to their survival.  

‘Nabi Landscape with Sculpture’ Acrylic painting

My painting ‘Nabi Landscape with Sculpture’ incorporates abstract shapes and bold colours inspired by the ‘Nabi’ art movement. An ominous glowing cloud hovers overhead, beneath which sculptures of a Grebe and flocks of migrating birds are weaving endlessly through the Australian landscape. Will they turn to stone or continue to thrive? The roadside vegetations, nature reserves, parks and backyards are vital to their survival and abundance. Many positive conversations in the communities suggest there is a growing love of birds. Many bird groups and land care volunteers work with commitment to give threatened bird species a chance to thrive.

Landscapes & Fossils

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‘Yarranjerry Fossils’ Acrylic Painting

Yarranjerry is a district near Ardlethan NSW. The Yarranjerry Creek forms part of this local area. Under the many layers of earth one thinks about the fossils that lay captured below. The painting ‘Yarranjerry Fossils’ captures the abstract shapes, colours and forms that reflect this unique area.

Cocopara National Park in Yenda NSW Cocopara is a protected National Park in near Griffith NSW. The area in size is 8,357 hectares. It has views that are vast. Rocks and huge boulders along with distant views have formed part of my inspiration in this painting. Accompanied by the changing colours, shapes and movements of seasons. The layers of the earth reflect the millions of years and layers of fossilised creatures and plants. It is within half hour drive from Griffith in the Riverina. It is noted for its bushwalking and birdwatching.

‘Cocopara‘

‘Mega Fauna Revival’

The paintings imagine millions of years of pre-human history. What it may have been like?!

‘Moombooldool’

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These paintings below were inspired by the small mallee remnant near Moombooldool along the Burley Griffin Highway near Barellan on the way to Griffith.

The paintings below were included as past of a finalists exhibition for the Calleen Art Awards which were held in the Cowra Regional Gallery in 2011, 2012 & 2013.

The captions under the paintings explain further.

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Above: ‘Moombooldool Mega Fauna’ is number three of a series of paintings of the Moombooldool mallee remnant. This roadside strip of vegetation is a sad relic of a former natural wilderness.

One can only imagine the Mega fauna of 60,000 years ago…

The three metre ‘Dromornis stirtoni’; a monstrous goose-like bird roaming with thunderous foot falls and eerie calls across the landscape, or giant lizards and oversized cockatoos plodding and screeching at the roadside as I drive to work.

Moombooldool Lastling

Above: Travelling to work along the Moombooldool stretch of road near Barellan allows me to interact with this once widespread Mallee landscape.
Now all that remains are the roadside strips.
In ‘Moombooldool Lastlings’ I use vivid colours to express my emotional response to this abandonment and neglect of nature.
The Feathertail Glider and the Pterostylis orchid symbolise the last living things facing extinction; ‘Lastlings’
‘Art will never be able to exist without nature’. Pierre Bonnard

Moombooldool Rhapsody copy

The above painting ‘Moombooldool Rhapsody’ is my reflection upon a struggling roadside remnant of the once widespread Mallee environment.

Discreet, camouflaged and ambiguous. My painting is illuminated by the energy and tenacity of creatures – echidnas, geckoes, bats, lizards and butterflies which reach a crescendo at night.

Encouragement for this painting comes from the French painter Andre Derain who wrote: ‘every shadow is a whole world of brightness and luminosity opposed to sunlight: these are called reflections.‘

It pains me to think that most people drive down the highway through my ‘Moombooldool Rhapsody’ oblivious to its decline.

Still Life

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‘Tumbling Hakeas’ Acrylic painting on canvas.

This Still Life painting imagines a jar of Hakeas tipping over, spilling its contents over a table- cloth and tumbling to the floor. I enjoy painting different perspectives of a traditional still life painting.

‘Banksia Moth’ Acrylic Painting on canvas

Insects play an important role in the world of flowers, fruits that normally feature in Still Life paintings. The close view of the moth reveals intricate patterns, shapes and colours. The moth may only live a short time on average one to six months depending on its individual genetics and environmental factors. The banksia, gum nuts and paper daisies decompose into the surrounding landscape.

Plein Air Painting

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‘Mistletoe Encounter’

Acrylic Paint on Canvas 60.5 x 50.5 cm

This painting formed part of a Finalist exhibition in the NSW Parliament House Plein Air Competition in 2015.

‘Mossy Pine Shadows’

Acrylic Painting of local bush on my property near Big Bush Nature Reserve.

‘Twin Shadows Tango’

Acrylic painting of local bush near Big Bush nature reserve.

‘Quandongs and Rejuvenation’

Acrylic painting on my bush property called ‘Terostylis’ at Temora.

Past Calleen Exhibits

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Every shadow is a whole world of brightness and luminosity opposed to sunlight: these are called reflections. Andre Derain

‘Moombooldool Rhapsody’ is my emotional reflection upon a struggling roadside remnant of the once widespread Mallee environment.

Discreet, camouflaged and ambiguous; my images are illuminated by the energy and tenacity of creatures: echidnas, geckoes, bats, lizards and butterflies which reach a crescendo at night.

It pains me to think that most people drive down the highway through my ‘Moombooldool Rhapsody’ oblivious.

‘Moombooldool Lastlings‘

Acrylic painting 119 x 153cm

‘Moombooldool Megafauna’

Acrylic Painting 130 x 104 cm


‘Moombooldool Mega Fauna’ is number three of a series of paintings of the Moombooldool mallee remnant. This roadside strip of vegetation is a sad relic of a former natural wilderness.
One can only imagine the Mega fauna of 60,000 years ago…
The three metre ‘Dromornis stirtoni’;
a monstrous goose-like bird roaming with thunderous foot falls and eerie calls across the landscape, or giant lizards and oversized cockatoos plodding and screeching at the roadside as I drive to work.

The Myth of the Goanna Eggs

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Goanna Eggs

‘The Myth of the Goanna Eggs’ is a painting based on my travels to and from Barellan school each week. Thinking about the past creatures such as large eagles swooping across the landscape over the isolated giant rocks and granite hills in the vicinity.

Latest in series of Moombooldool

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Here are some of my paintings below in the Moombooldool series. Moombooldool is located between Ardlethan and Barellan on the way to Griffith. ‘Moombooldool Mega Fauna’ is number three of a series of paintings of the Moombooldool mallee remnant. This roadside strip of vegetation is a sad relic of a former natural wilderness. One can only imagine the Mega fauna of 60,000 years ago… The three metre ‘Dromornis stirtoni’; a monstrous goose-like bird roaming with thunderous foot falls and eerie calls across the landscape, or giant lizards and oversized cockatoos plodding and screeching at the roadside as I drive to work.

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Above ‘Moombooldool Megafauna’– this painting was a finalist in the Calleen Art Award 2013

in  Moombooldool Rhapsody copy

Above ‘Moombooldool Rhapsody’ – this painting was a finalist in the Calleen Art Award 2011

Moombooldool Lastling

Above: ‘Moombooldool Lastlings’ This painting was a finalist in the 2012 Calleen Art Award

jeanette gash moombooldool reverberations

‘Moombooldool Reverberations’ is number four of a series of paintings of the Moombooldool mallee remnant. This roadside strip of vegetation is yet another sad relic of a former natural wilderness. Fragments of birdsong and glimpses of birds, mammals and insects mingle with the hanging Mistletoe and vines and the umbrella crowns of the mallee trees. 

‘Moombooldool Mallee Remnant’