Last Saturday evening I went to the opening of an exhibition at Tamworth Regional Gallery of paintings by Ross Laurie and David McBride. Both artists work derives from the landscape in which they live. Ross lives in the country near Walcha and David is from the Mendooran area near Dubbo. Ross's work is complex and textural while David's work is done with large flat blocks of colour in which balance of these fewbrilliantly-coloured elemental shapes are carefully balanced. A couple of links to information and images of the artists are

http://www.damienmintongallery.com.au/artists/ross-laurie
http://www.northerndailyleader.com.au/news/local/news/general/gallery-brings-artists-together-for-exhibit/1773069.aspx

Ross taught me many years ago and is always a challenging and highly professional teacher and artist. I feel that I can always rely on his honesty and an opinion of my work that is based in experience and knowledge.

This Friday just gone I attended the opening of a Uralla artist Barbara Mackay. Her paintings are free and expressive and reflect her engagement with the landscape. Barbara has travelled extensively and has a wealth of experience, talent and a strong commitment to her art. She recently had an exhibition in Kuala Lumpar, won an award there and the exhibition that just opened is going to travel enabling many people to view her work.
A link to her work in the recent Malaysian exhibition is

http://www.annexegallery.com/index.php?option=com_eventlist&view=details&id=131:the-magic-hour-barbara-mckay-solo-show&Itemid=28