The Alice Springs 'Desert' Capsule
A fateful trip to the Northern Territory inspired two incredible works
This year Lance took a trip to the East & West MacDonnell Ranges near Alice Springs with four close friends - exploring the nearby billabongs and vast desert expanse.
Lance spent time doing plein air studies (quick paintings done on site to capture the light and colour of the landscape) to build a collection of reference points to bring back home to Sydney.
What came back from that trip are two works that sit apart from everything Lance has made before.
'Before the Jump' is Lance's first landscape-only piece, and it's a real departure from his usual practice.
The study was painted just before one of the group jumped into a shallow billabong fracturing his leg on landing — the name stuck. The finished painting is looser and far more gestural than we're used to seeing from Lance. The shocking reds and deep oranges tone reflect the colours of the Alice Springs earth.
Both pieces then went through months of work & refinement back in his studio in Enmore.
'Unlimited Mileage' is the counterpoint - it plays with Lance's signature hyperrealistic style and juxtaposes it against the organic landscape of the Alice Springs desert.
One of Lance's most highly anticipated works, the piece depicts a single diesel pump standing alone in the desert. It plays on the same unique 'forgotten' feeling that Lance creates so well, the viewer is left searching for signs of life amongst the piece.
EXPLORE NEW ART
Both pieces went through months of work in the studio after the trip. The plein air studies are just the starting point, they are then translated into finished paintings using Lance's traditional sign-painting techniques.
These artworks are only available exclusively from Steady Store.