Throwing Caution to the Canvas

I think it's fair to say that I have an addiction.

It leaves me scratching for pennies the day before payday.

It occupies my spare time. I juggle competing commitments to feed the need.

It is endlessly engaging and thought-provoking.

And of it I know, like all enthusiasts, that I know very little...

Western Desert art

I'm a novice in the playpen of western desert art, but Alice Springs is the place to learn.

I know my financial adviser will groan when he reviews my savings, because I haven't quite kept to plan. What I do have, however, is an office that sings with energy and is gradually shedding itself of available wall space.

The problem is that the art is so good, and so cheap. When you see a great painting that's half price at $495, it's hard to say no.

I've decided to limit my addiction by trying to get a painting from/about each of the 12 Ngaanyatjarra communities, with a diversity of stories and styles.

So far, I have a:

• simple black and white dot painting (of minmya) from Blackstone
• fclassic seven sisters story from Warakurna (my first naive purchase)
  
• large Papunya Tula painting of Tjukurla dreaming (there are strong Dreaming sites around Tjukurla, and this is my largest painting)
• elegant painting from Patjarr arts centre, depicting the 'cutlines' (tracks of vehicles) heading out from Warburton mission to the Pira Pira waterhole
  

And I'm currently pausing over the largest yet painting, men's tjukurrpa, painted by a tjilpi from Kiwirrkurra.

I have yet to get a story from Wingellina, Jameson, Tjirrkali, Cosmo-Newberry, Kanpa.

And I'll probably get some glass from Warburton. It's always out of the mould, and you just have to do things for Warburton just a little different from the rest!