Geoffrey Stapleton

I began the sketch for this painting back in the late eighties, forgot about it, then discovered it again while putting the "deserts" exhibition together. Australia has so many incredible outcrops of rock that rise unexpectedly out of the landscape and it's not hard to see why so many indigenous stories and indeed spirits are attached to them. I heard the story of the "Rainbow Serpent" as a child and it has stayed with me ever since. It always sounded like such a beautiful yet awesome creature.