Acrylics and mixed media on canvas
125cm (W) x 94cm (H) Framed
Arrival, a portent : acrylics and mixed media on canvas
The painting depicts my idea of the first sighting of the Geelong harbour and town, that the migrants, Jonathon and Ann Porter O’Brien would have experienced from a ferry that had departed Melbourne. Mr. O”Brien was a successful merchant from Liverpool, anticipating ambitious settlement in Australia. Their adventure was tragically terminated due to the infantile deaths of their daughter during the voyage to Australia, and two sons in Geelong.
Within seven years they abandoned their profitable business, and returned to Liverpool where an advanced maternity hospital had been established, there to nurture a family more confident in the security of advanced infant care.
The image of the approaching storm represents a portent of unbearable grief, and the loss and burial of three children who would be born during their short-lived residence in Geelong.
The looming storm clouds, and the enlarged Barrabool hills behind the town are painted as an emulation of the Romantic style that characterized art and literature of the 19th Century.
The prints framing the lower portion of the picture, are extracts of maps of the Mersey River, the Atlantic Ocean and
Bass Strait, with direction signs of the Liverpool departures hall, all illustrating the O”Briens’ voyage.
Arrival, a portent - James Watt
I have worked as a teacher of visual arts in State and Catholic secondary schools, from 1975 to 2017.
During these years I have sustained my studio work in painting, drawing, supported by photography and printmaking .
I have participated in group exhibitions with teaching colleagues, one a three man show and, I contributed work to Geelong’s Momenta event for three years.
The most recent show in 2020, a special exhibition at the historical Grange estate in Newtown, Geelong, was
called "sic transit gloria mundi" ( thus passes the glory of the world ), collaborated with my wife Ramona, and Michele Watt, my sister in law.
My painting "Arrival, a portent" ( acrylics and mixed media on canvas ), was originally made for inclusion in the Grange exhibition, is submitted to this competition with its dramatized image of an approaching, boiling storm.