Hidden Gullies

Hidden Gullies (Crimson Rosellas) Original Acrylic on Canvas 91cm x 61cm

James Inspiration: “I have returned to a few very special gullies in the Killabakh Nature Reserve in the Manning Valley numerous times. I always come away refreshed and ready for a large painting. The cool gullies predominate with tall eucalypts, grass trees and intermingled remnants of rainforest. The chattering of life in these hidden gullies goes on daily with no human involvement. Until I came along and captured this Crimsons family”.

The original “Rosella” was a name coined by early settlers who on their journeys between Sydney and Parramatta regularly saw White Cheeked Rosellas at Rose Hill.  They called the birds “Rose Hillers”, which was pleasantly corrupted to Rosella.  Rosellas are gregarious birds, immatures commonly banding with occasional adults in wandering feeding groups of up to 30 and more out of breeding season.  Adults are less communal and seem more sedentary usually staying in pairs.  These birds are essentially seed and fruit eaters and will forage adeptly both on the ground and in the outer foliage of trees.  Early morning sees them flying to drink and feed, clambering among the outer branches of trees and shrubs.  The seeds of the eucalypt are a staple diet.

The Crimson Rosella is found along the Great Dividing Range.  They live in and along the edge of tall timbered eucalypt forests and woodlands, from River Red gums along the Murray to the Atherton tablelands in Queensland.  There’s no feeding territory or breeding territory.  At times they take in dew by pulling sodden leaves through their mandibles.  When on the ground they keep to patches of shade.  Pairing seems to be permanent even though adult’s group in small social gatherings both in and out of breeding season.  After the young are about two weeks old both parents feed them, ceasing two or three weeks after fledging and abandoning them a month or so later to flocks of juveniles.  No more than one brood is usually raised each year.

James was a full- time Engineer in Surveying and Design work but his passion for Australian Wildlife Art has seen him become a professional full- time artist.  This self-taught artist, thoroughly researches each subject by using all his own resource material from sketches to photography.  The final composition may be components of many sketches and photographic images collected on walks and visits to many of Australia’s National Parks and bush land reserves.  All his work is achieved using acrylic where layers of transparent colour work is achieved using to build tonal effects.

A number of his originals have been reproduced as prints, calendars, placements, coasters and greeting cards increasing his profile.  James is an International Award winning artist. Since 2020, Australian Geographic has featured 13 of James artworks in their annual calendar. It has been so successful James will continue with this exclusive arrangement.

A reproduction of this image was reproduced in the 2022 Australian Geographic Art Calendar and the Artists for Conservation 2021 Virtual Exhibit and Companion book.

Original artwork by James Hough

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