Artist Rod Collard with his work for sale at Osborne Park Hospital.
Camera IconArtist Rod Collard with his work for sale at Osborne Park Hospital. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Animals inspire artwork

Lauren PilatStirling Times

Artwork by Rod Collard, Krocette (David Prior) and Brian McNamara ranging from $180 to $3000 was sourced especially for Naidoc Week and will be on display and for sale at the hospital until the end of July.

Mr Collard said his pieces reflected his childhood memories of his homeland in the South-West and all came from his heart.

He grew up near Pinjarra and Mandurah and his family would go down to the estuaries, crabbing and fishing.

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Mr Collard said painting the animals kept those memories alive and enhanced them so he could pass them on to his children and grandchildren.

"As a child I remember all old people, especially our old lady grandies, telling us stories about our country, where and how we lived, how the men would hunt, build camps (tin humpies and bush shades and putting up tents) and the seasonal work they did," he said.

�Women would go gathering for food, wild fruit and berries.

�Our old grandies always told stories and drew about them on the ground so we could understand them.

"They drew animals and their feet and paw- prints circles about camp areas and waterholes and bush tracks where we used to walk from one site to another."

Mr Collard said indigenous artwork strongly reflected traditional ownership of homelands, cultural heritage, firm cultural heritage and strong spiritual connection and passion for the Dreamtime and ancestral Dreamtime.

"I create all my own designs, patterns and vibrant colours," he said.

"These all come from within our hearts and soul."