This September I spent a month painting in Bali. It was my third trip there and I was once again mesmerized by the richly colored surroundings. The verdant landscape, flora and fauna, vibrant art, and diverse textiles make this island the ultimate color school. During my art residency I created a new body of work on paper inspired by the environment (selected works below.)
All works are for sale in my shop.
Upon arriving in Bali, I spent the first couple of days in Canggu decompressing from my flight. “Kuta has moved to Canggu,” my taxi driver said, and the swarm of surfers and motorbikes seemed to follow on cue. Luckily it was off-season so I got to enjoy a somewhat quiet vibe at Batu Balong Beach. One could drift into idle delight for hours there, lazing on bean bags watching sun-bleached surfboards bob along the waves.
Batu Balong beach
Surfers, Canggu
Surf Magic, acrylic on paper, 11” x 14”, 2023
On day three I headed to AIR Ubud, my art residency, which was located in the hypnotically beautiful Juwak Manis rice fields.
Juwak Manis rice fields
Juwak Manis rice fields
Sweet Leaf, acrylic on paper, 11” x 14”, 2023
AIR Ubud was a lovely, low key center of creative activity. Designed by the German artist, Ole Ukena, the space had a modern, airy feel. I stayed in a large room overlooking the river and shared a communal workspace with garment makers, guitar players, photographers, and a number of vocal cats. Most mornings I worked on the terrace overlooking the jungle–a fantasia of leaf forms, twisted branches, and flower blooms. The ongoing chorus of bird caws and the occasional cat fight kept me in the present moment (which was good for my work.)
My room at AIR Ubud
My painting space at AIR Ubud
Jungle Morning, acrylic on paper, 11” x 14”, 2023
Afternoons were spent in art markets and galleries like Neka art museum which contains fantastic work by famous Balinese and expat painters. I visited a number of studios where local artists painted stories from Hindu and Buddhist texts in the traditional Balinese style. I also happened upon Zanzibar art house, the dream-like art gallery and home of Christine Hingston, an Australian painter creating compelling and colorful abstract works.
Local painter, Ubud
Christine Hingston in her studio, Ubud
Ubud can be chaotic and overcommercialized but the indelible spirit of the town is found in the beauty weaved into everyday life. It is there in the bright daily offerings, ornate home temples, sarrong patterns, and soothing tea house wind chimes. It is found unexpectedly when coming upon lovingly tended gardens, little known river walks, and glorious lotus ponds.
Daily offerings in Ubud
Lotus pond, Ubud
Offerings, acrylic on paper, 11” x 14”, 2023
After two weeks in Ubud, I headed to gorgeous Amed, a chain of small fishing villages on the coast of East Bali. I attempted to visit this area in 2019 but Mt Agung, the looming — yet unquestioningly alluring — volcano, was active and I was told to stay away (locals tell me that was unnecessary.)
Mt Agung, Jemeluk Beach, Amed
Bunatan Beach, Amed
Lipah Mood, acrylic on paper, 11” x 14”, 2023
Unlike Ubud which is heavily developed, the villages of Amed are slow and simple. The coast is dotted with derelict temples, family warungs, and small dive shops. I painted in a bungalow surrounded by coconut trees, snorkeled with glowing sea life, found an exquisite solarium in the jungle, and enjoyed forays into abandoned spaces like this graffiti-adorned pavilion (below.) There is something so wild, free, and mysterious about these derelict places and I stood in this one quite awhile imagining the type of paintings I could make there.
Solarium, Rimba cafe, Amed
Derelict pavilion, Amed
Morning at Rimba Cafe, acrylic on paper, 11” x 14”, 2023
My final destination was Sidemen, a place I had visited before. This is truly the perfect place to drop out (and in)— every direction you walk is a meditative commune with nature. To wake up each morning in these expansive rice fields, drink coffee and fresh juice, follow dogs and ducks down river paths, and paint my afternoons away, is pretty close to my idyllic life scenario. I could feel my brushstrokes getting looser and a playfulness arising in my work here. I was definitely not as hard on myself as I tend to be when I paint!
Rice field Viewpoint, Sidemen
Rice fields, Sidemen
Free Swim, acrylic on paper, 11” x 14”, 2023
I finished 20 works on paper in Bali and am in the midst of completing 10 more.
Visit my shop to see them.