This spectacular painting “Michael” by Richard Roper was discovered on a Sunday afternoon drive on the Labour Day weekend a few years ago.

We had decided to have a long lunch up at Mt Tamborine and to wander through some art galleries and shops.

Why? Because the area is beautiful, and the clean crisp air, especially in May has a magic about it, the vista looking out over the Gold Coast is spectacular and why not!!!

We had been in and out of a couple of galleries and we came across Gallery Works. We wandered in and both kind of went quiet as we lost ourselves in the artist’s work. It was interesting, different, some of it mystical, some of it amusing. Some of the paintings were inspired by poems which were presented beside the painting.

We were lost in another world.

Both of us were lost in our individual bubbles. Gradually we gravitated towards Richard, the artist and gallery owner. We talked about his multimedia techniques. The conversation meandered on to living and painting on Mt Tambourine, how art has been a passion all his life, his working career, his goal to have a gallery and paint full time when he retired which he was very happily doing. We learnt that Richard was taught to draw as a child by aboriginal children using layers of wet clay on the banks of the river. You can see in this painting his cleverness of creating layers to paint a picture and tell a story.

He invited us into his studio, which I loved. I felt like I had died and gone to heaven.

We started wondering through his studio. I first saw “Michael” in the floor leaning in the corner. It was captivating. It was fresh and different (different to the work he had hanging in the gallery). I then turned to see Martin spot Michael for the first time. He was also captivated.

We looked at each other and smiled. We asked Richard why this painting was not in the gallery. He told us it was an experiment and that he was still thinking about it and the techniques he used. I asked him, when he has finished thinking about it would he consider selling it to us. He was not sure.

We left the studio giving Richard our email address in the hope that he would sell “Michael” to us.

The painting was burnt on my mind’s eye.

Twenty-four hours later we received an email from Richard, saying thank you, our love for his experiment has encourage him to sell it and to move down the path of doing more in this style. We were thrilled. We organised a day and time to pick “Michael” up (and have another long lunch at Mt Tambourine). When we came to pick Michael up, we spent a couple of hours sitting on the bench seat at the gallery talking with Richard about life, the universe and everything.

I really want to honour Richard and highlight his work. Each painting tells a story.

It appears Richard is now selling his studio, gallery and house (perhaps he is downsizing as well) His website reveals that he is moving solely to on-line sales now.

In summary:

Artist in the spotlight – Richard Roper
From – Gallery Works (Formerly at Mt Tambourine, now on-line only)  https://bluethumb.com.au/richard-roper
Artwork title – “Michael”
Media – All original mixed media. This is a combination of water colour and inks on canvas.

About Michael

I understand Richard meet Michael at a conference. Michael is an indigenous Australian who was the first from his family to go to university. I understand his mother asked him, “Why do you want to work in white man’s world?” When his portrait was painted he was the curator for indigenous artefacts at Queensland Museum. It is an important role to share his world to people who may never normally get the chance to see it.

I love the joy that Michael has given us as he has hung over our piano in the lounge. I am also thrilled to say, he is now hanging in a serious art collection with other stunning paintings.

And on a side note, Martin and my birthdays are a day apart. “Michael” was a joint birthday present to us.

I encourage you all to go walkabout, check out your local backyards, have long lunches. You never know who you will meet and what you may walk home with. What are you waiting for?

Check out Mt Tambourine Art Trail

Gallery Works http://www.galleryworks.com.au/blog/

Current works for sale http://www.galleryworks.com.au/blog/category/richard-roper/2014/