Paddlesteamers on the Murray at Echuca

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This is marvellous and I have actually gone on your website and had a look at some of your other work, which I found equally interesting and admirable. Nice to have you posting on the POL gallery.

The Murray River, in Australia, is the third largest navigable river in the world after the Amazon and the Nile at 2520 kms. From 1853 it was a virtual highway for over half a century as paddlesteamers carried wool, meat and other goods up and down the river system. I have rendered the many poles that support the massive redgum wharf in a scraffito technique, revealing a pre-laid wash. The boats are in a loose style with controlled use of colour with strong contrasts. The eye is very easily led across an unobstructed foreground to the focal point, the two boats. The trees are just suggested and not overworked, with rhythm in the trunks and branches.