Rosemary Scott

March 2019

44cm x 44cm

acrylic on wood panel

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March 2019

30cm x 30cm

oil and acrylic on canvas

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I wanted to say lots of things in this painting; it ended up being a spilling out of so many thoughts about the impact of the human race on the earth; about the countless species that are becoming extinct as a direct consequence of human civilisation.

There have been 5 mass extinctions in the life of our planet. Extinctions that wiped out entire species, entire ecosystems, thanks to the sheer force of nature. I like to think that the dinosaurs lived their lives blissfully ignorant of the disaster that came to them 65 million years ago.
Similarly we humans seem to be equally ignorant. Despite the intelligence that out complex brains affords us we’re destroying our planet, destroying the species that we share it with and we’re hurtling headlong into an extinction of our own.

I don’t think our own eventual extinction is necessarily a bad thing. Rather, just another phase in the life cycle of our planet, which will eventually meet it’s own end as our sun dies. Ultimately nature will do what it does best.

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As far as elements go you’ll find a little Tardigrade holding on to the red string. He’s there because Tardigrades are one thing that has survived all 5 extinction events and there is every chance that they will continue to do so until the very end of everything. Tardigrades are amazing little survivors!

The red string represents the thing that connects humans with the dinosaurs. Whilst our lives on earth has never intersected time wise, we’re connected by the inevitability of eventual extinction. The assuredness that humanity’s time too will pass, and we will make way for entirely different lifeforms to dominate the earth, just as the dinosaurs made way for us.

The mountain in the background just beneath the dinosaur neck is my little tribute to this beautiful, ancient place that I live - Tasmania. That’s Kunanyi that I’m privileged to look upon each and every day.

January 2019

25cm x 20cm

Acrylic on canvas

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Another work of Death personified, this time she draws her name from the Etruscan/Roman Goddess Mania (Manea). Manea was the Goddess of Death, ruling over the Underworld with her husband Mantus. She was also the Goddess of Spirits and Chaos. She was said to be the mother of ghosts, the undead, and other spirits of the night.

I’ve included a number of symbolic elements :

The Calla Lillies are considered to be the flower most often associated with funerals. They’re not a morbid element though as they represent faith, purity and rebirth in Victorian Flower symbology. (known as Floriography).

Death Watch Beetles are included because of the old superstition that says that the ticking sound made by the adult beetle is said to portend death.

The crossed bones are there representing the returning of our bodies back to the earth.

December 2018

20cm x 15.5cm

Graphite on A4 Canson 220gsm paper

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Another work of Death personified, this time she draws her name from the Etruscan/Roman Goddess Mania (Manea). Manea was the Goddess of Death, ruling over the Underworld with her husband Mantus. She was also the Goddess of Spirits and Chaos. She was said to be the mother of ghosts, the undead, and other spirits of the night.

I’ve included a number of symbolic elements :

The Calla Lillies are considered to be the flower most often associated with funerals. They’re not a morbid element though as they represent faith, purity and rebirth in Victorian Flower symbology. (known as Floriography).

Death Watch Beetles are included because of the old superstition that says that the ticking sound made by the adult beetle is said to portend death.

The cloak clasp features a two headed dragon representing life and death; the earthly world balanced by the underworld.

The crossed bones are there representing the returning of our bodies back to the earth.

September 2018

27.5cm x 18.5cm

watercolour and ink on A4 300gsm Canson L'Aquarelle Heritage paper.

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I’ve spent the past four years unable to do art of any kind due to illness. It’s been a long, hard journey and I’m still not well, but I’ve now recovered enough that I’ve reached the point I’m able to create again and it makes my soul sing!

I created Tasman in celebration of being able to hold a paintbrush again, of being able to hold a thought in my head for long enough to be able to complete a work, and of living on this beautiful island whose climate has played such an important part in my recovery.

I’ve written a blog post explaining my journey through illness if you’d like to learn more.

November 2018

27.cm x 18.5cm

watercolour and ink on A4 300gsm Canson L'Aquarelle Heritage paper.

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Two of my great loves are mythology and the macabre, so it was only a matter of time before I painted the personification of death.

Mythology has almost always depicted Death as male, skeletal, wearing a long cloak and carrying a scythe. Breaking from tradition I thought it would be fun to instead portray Death as a nine year old girl… with a big scythe, in the deep dark woods. That’s not scary at all!

I had so much fun researching Death that I made a short video from the reference material I collected. You can see it here.

September 2018

27.5cm x 19cm

ink, coloured pencil, art markers and watercolour on A4 Canson 220gsm paper

The Church of the Sacred Toad

Abide

finding solitude

Tote available at Redbubble

Throw pillow available at Redbubble

Cases and Skins available at Nuvango

Laptop Skins available at Nuvango

Available at Prints on Wood

Available at Society6

Available at Society6

Available at Society6

Moirai

The Value of Time

Vigil