Earthscapes is a selection of recent woodblock prints, wood carvings and mixed media works on paper and canvas by artist James Butt. In creating work for this exhibition, Butt has collected wood for carving from the natural environment; complementing the finished pieces which reflect the Australian landscape. “I like to be inquisitive with my art and explore the potential of colour, movement and lyricism. I like the beauty and complexity of living eco-systems here on this incredible planet.” James has always been drawn to the tactile warmth of Wood Carving – a free abundant art material gleaned from beaches and abandoned farm yards….exposed to the elements, smashed onto pebble beaches by the raging sea. Wood Block printing adds a Graphic structure amid the permeating oxide stains and brush marks, resembling geological cross sections of pre-historic sedimentary rock – the solid Australian landscape .
