Current Exhibition "Devils, Dogs, Ducks and Others" an exhibition of oil paintings by Susan Parsons

Shelducks
oil on canvas
31cm x 41cm
$320

Wedge-tail Eagle
oil on canvas
45cm h x 91cm w
$430

Billy
oil on canvas
30cm h x 30cm w
$280

Woodland Path
oil on canvas
102cm h x 50cm w
$490

Sandy
oil on canvas
30cm h x 30cm w
$280

Possum
oil on canvas
61cm h x 46cm w
$430

Bluey
oil on canvas
30cm h x 30cm w
$280

Devil's Den
oil on canvas
60cm h x 90cm w
$570

Spotted Quoll
oil on stretched canvas
61cm h x 50cm w
$490

Sheep
oil on stretched canvas
61cm h x 91cm w
$570

Butcher Bird
oil on canvas
41cm h x 51cm w
$390

Magpie Lane
oil on canvas
30cm h x 60cm w
$370

Artist's Statement

In this exhibition I celebrate the diversity of Tasmanian native animals and birds in their natural habitat juxtaposed with introduced farm animals. My long association with rural Tasmania drives my work and I draw inspiration from all the animals and birds that have crossed my path.

Early memories of life on the farm include magpies serenading; wedgetail eagles soaring; ducks paddling in the frog pond and sheep grazing contentedly. Kangaroos, wallabies and wombats were plentiful but generally considered to be pests by farmers as they competed for pasture and destroyed fences. Eagles and crows attacked baby lambs and devils and quolls squabbled over hens and eggs.

As farming progressed native habitat dwindled, as did numbers of native animals and birds. Thankfully, nowadays our native wildlife is cherished and appreciated and many farmers have fenced off dedicated areas of bush land allowing regeneration that provides safe habitat and enables restoration of natural food chains for native animals.

Susan Parsons

March 2016

See more of Susan's work www.inkagallery.org.au