Head In The Clouds is a self-portrait created in 2023, during a period of significant change and a new beginning for me in Queensland.
Siamese fighting fish swirl around the figure’s head, their flowing fins creating a sense of movement, beauty and turmoil. I was drawn to the betta as a symbol of resilience and renewal, but also to an unexpected characteristic: despite being fish, bettas can breathe atmospheric air through a specialised labyrinth organ.
That connection to air became part of the idea behind the work. Rather than swimming underwater, the fish float through the space around the figure, blurring the boundary between an external environment and an internal headspace.
There’s also tension beneath their beauty. Male bettas are famously territorial, and the circling fish became a way of representing the conflicting thoughts and emotions that accompanied a period of considerable change.
Metallic gold across the figure's skin and mica through the fish scales shift and shimmer as the viewing angle changes, giving the painting another dimension that is difficult to capture completely in photographs.
At 92 × 122 cm, and framed in natural Tasmanian oak, Head In The Clouds is a substantial statement piece with both visual impact and a deeply personal story behind it.
Original mixed media painting
Acrylic and Posca marker on canvas
92 × 122 × 3.8 cm
94 × 124 × 5 cm framed
Natural Tasmanian oak floating frame
Ready to hang
Please note that colours and metallic details may appear differently across screens and lighting conditions.
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