DON’T WISH THESE DAYS AWAY

MICHAEL REID SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS

SEPTEMBER 2025

‘Don’t wish these days away’ is a mantra I found myself repeating as I worked on this collection through winter 2025. It’s also a line from a song written by one of my good friends about the passing of the seasons and a reminder to cherish each day, even the challenging ones. Landscapes that appear in this collection are all drawn from photos and memories of family weekend trips or days out over the last few years during winter. It feels poignant to me that my three teenagers are growing and moving away, albeit slowly, but still there’s a shift towards another chapter. There’s a vague feeling of melancholy to these places and memories, at the thought of time passing, that these days are fleeting, but there’s also a feeling of gratitude for the life we are leading. In the still life works I have focused on the acid yellow of the wattle and the bright orange of the banksia, ubiquitous in winter. These colours are echoed in the landscape works. They serve as another reminder of the season, cheerful pops of bright colour on otherwise grey and cold days. A reminder to cherish the gifts of the season and to not wish these days away.