The Birth of Vision – A surreal metaphor in culture

THE BIRTH OF VISION – In the shadow of my father’s glory Surreal painting herons flight

Interested collectors, ask at this link for the original or 1 of 15 limited edition acrylic enhanced reproductions.
Buy reproductions @ Fine Art America surreal painting herons flight

THE PROVERB

Watch over your dream
Predators hunger
Will destroy
Due diligence
Wise counsel
The elders of heaven
Wisdom
Ready to deploy
Your generation’s dream

THE STORY

The surreal painting The Birth of Vision was inspired by my earlier works, Dancing with Joy” 1 and 2.

While filming friends windsurfing at Rangiputa on the Kari Kari Peninsula, I suddenly heard deep, guttural calls overhead. Looking above the macrocarpa trees, I saw herons moving with incredible grace. In that moment, the windsurfers no longer held my attention—the herons carried a new story.

They rode the strong sea breezes, playing in the currents before settling again in the trees. I felt compelled to capture what I was witnessing.

Days later, curiosity led me to search for an explanation. Google revealed it was their spring mating dance. What I had seen was pure joy—a display of the beautiful instincts God placed within them.

That revelation stirred me deeply, and the story demanded to be painted.

My reasons

In The Birth of Vision, I wanted to capture the kind of joy a child feels while playing confidently under a father’s loving care. Have you ever sensed your Father’s—or your heavenly Father’s—delight over your life? That pure happiness inspired me.

In my Pillars of Heaven series, I draw lessons from the animal kingdom to reflect on life’s joys and hopes. My own journey—from confusion, rejection, addiction, and depression to a renewed life—gave me a new vision, now witnessed by compassionate elders around me.

The pillar became my symbol of stability: true happiness comes from leaning on God’s wisdom. Watching the herons’ dance filled me with awe, gratitude, and a deeper love for the Creator. When we focus on the pure and uplifting wonders around us, our spirits are nourished, and we begin to taste the joy of heavenly living and the beauty of a loving, connected community.

From that place of security comes confidence to pursue personal goals and dreams to fulfil your life purpose.

Bridging Worlds Through Art

This painting grew out of my exploration of Australian Aboriginal and New Zealand Māori storytelling. Their rich symbolism, rhythm, and art traditions stirred me to reflect on universal truths—identity, purpose, love, connection, and inner peace.

I approach their cultures with deep respect. As I’ve learned at my own pace, my admiration has grown for communities that have carried beauty, resilience, and wisdom through hardship. By blending their storytelling, dot painting, and design motifs with my own Western-style photorealism, I aim to create a conversation between cultures and generations.

The Māori Mangopare shark—symbol of abundance, strength, agility, and determination—guided warriors with courage. Aboriginal dot painting, song, dance, and the sounds of the didgeridoo open windows into unseen realms, honouring both the natural and the spiritual.

Through this fusion, I reflect on my own heritage and our shared human longing for meaning. Each brushstroke becomes a small act of meditation—an invitation to meet life, spirit, and the sacred. As an ex-pat Australian, dwelling in New Zealand, I am grateful to honour our Indigenous and First peoples’ heritage and share their beauty with the world.

To me, this work is part of a divine legacy—a meeting place where creativity, story, and spirituality unite. It is an offering to witness God’s craftsmanship, a meditation on mystery, and a glimpse of a world where fear and injustice cannot overshadow the perfection of what He has made.

Women’s Fashion

We have allocated numerous segments from this painting to be reproduced in our street gallery called “La Festa”, exhibited on multiple product lines at Fine Art America

STATUS and MATERIALS

ORIGINAL FOR SALE  *
Painted with professional oils on fine-weave, gesso-primed linen canvas for long life. Canvas is stretched on New Zealand pine, and oil paint is protected with brushed dammar varnish.
* Original and Limited Edition reproductions are supplied with Provenance, coded Authentication of Sale Certificate, and maintenance/care information.

15 LIMITED EDITION “ACRYLIC ENHANCED” CANVAS REPRODUCTIONS
Please ask about the price and sizes.
A master acrylic artist will digitally recreate the original painting and use hand-painted brushstrokes to replicate the original painting.

75 LIMITED EDITION CANVAS REPRODUCTIONS * 
Unframed sizes | 960 x short side – $960  |  650 x short side – $650
Printed on long-life archival canvas and protected with two coats of UV archival protection spray.
* Stretch-mounted reproductions will incur added charges for mounting and freight.

OPEN EDITION POSTER ART PRINTS * 
Unframed sizes | 594 x short side – $120  |  420 x short side – $92
* Posters printed on fine art papers and treated with two coats of UV archival protection spray.

PROCESS

Multiple images photographed with a Canon 5D and 7D, colour-enhanced digital illustration created on an iMac in Photoshop CC. Painted on fine-weave, gesso-primed linen canvas for long life. Stretch mounted proudly on hardboard and protected with brushed dammar varnish.

FASHION

Images from “The Birth of Vision” will be exhibited on multiple product lines at Fine Art America

SHIPPING

• Includes insurance and package/handling fees.
• The Original and Limited Edition reproductions ship with the Provenance-coded Authentication of Sale Certificate and maintenance information.
• Poster art prints ship in insured tubes.

AWARDS