I am no good at parties. I freeze in a corner, and this is me, wrapped up like a parcel while the hilarity proceeds round me, over me and elsewhere. The mask is, of course, from Marilyn Manson's Smells Like Children CD cover.

The trees were outside my studio at Currency Creek, S Australia - trees make such marvellous shapes and patterns - and all the old ladies were actually in a Mrs Field Day competition at a Murray Bridge show, all dressed up and stood in a row - I couldn't believe my luck!

This painting was one that went on and on, with bits changing and being added, getting itself into a muddle and a bit of a mess until I finally forced myself to come to a conclusion, fill in all the remaining white bits, tidy up the edges, and finish the damn thing. This is what happens when I start a piece without a very clear idea of where it's all going to end up.

** There are more notes on parties on the Compare Parties Page and the ripped canvas on the Compare Use of Ripped Canvas Page.