Classic Norman Lane

Senior artists at Djilpin Arts have been sharing culture for decades, ensuring knowledge is being passed on for future generations. As time passes, mobility, steady hand or vision issues increase, with the artist’s ability to document and transfer stories becoming somewhat reduced. Djilpin is supporting our most Senior artists to stay connected and maintain income through our Classic Beswick Series.

About Norman Lane
Norman has been painting for over thirty years and is proud to share his knowledge and culture through art. He learned to paint through a collaborative teaching effort from his uncle, father and brother Tango. Many hours were spent sitting at a billabong and practising painting on bark, so it is fitting to see that Norman's recurrent themes are billabong life, fish, snakes and birds. Norman has the ability to view life both above and below the water surface. He uses a traditional jarlk grass brush for rarrk fine line work. Lately, Norman has been experimenting with a spatter style background giving a similar visual texture to rock or starry nights.

Barramundi, Freshwater Crocodile & Saratoga
This is a classic piece by Norman, depicting from top to bottom; a Barramundi complete with red eye, a Freshwater Crocodile, and a Saratoga. Rarrk fine-line work is in the Yirritja style, and painted using a handmade jarlk brush. Background is in a spatter effect, visually simulating a starry night sky. This background is a new technique Norman is experimenting with, while the freshwater animals are old-school, classic Norman.

Bats & Python
Bats are prevalent in Beswick and their noise is audible all day. They do leave during mango season, giving a quiet reprieve, however for the most part they linger and feed on the flowers depicted in this painting. The older generation used to eat the bats, but in modern times they are generally left alone from human interference. Olive pythons, however, do not leave them alone - they are a common sight, growing incredibly large and creeping up to feast on the unsuspecting bat population. These are magnificent creatures, whose skin sheens like oil under a night time torch. This painting by Norman tells this story - a true tale of bat life in Beswick. It is painted in Yirritja style rarrk, using a handmade jarlk brush.

Billabong Birds
Billabongs come to life during the wet season, with birds coming in from far and wide to feast, nest and roost. This painting depicts multiple bird species; three magpie geese flying, and three in the bottom left corner. Two jabiru with black heads and neck are on the right. Three brolgas are on the left with their grey necks and heads. Two jacanas seemingly walk across the water and lily pads. Interspersed among all of this are multiple lily pads, and their flowers in bulb. All of the birds are in Yirritja style raark (four lines of each colour). The exception to this is the jacana birds, which feature Dhuwa style rarrk (single line alternating colours).