Friday, November 23, 2012

Painting the Nardoo


Nardoo is a common and widespread fern found across inland Australia. The fern appears after significant rainfall, producing spores on the damp mud of billabongs, lakes, rivers and flood plains as the floodwaters recede.


I collected a few specimens to paint from the swampy, mosquito infested old dam at the back of the farm yard. Now the temperature is heating up, the dam is most likely home to a dreaded brown snake or two!


The fronds of the Nardoo are slightly hairy, and resemble the four-leaf clover. I painted this design using a wet on wet watercolour technique in a palette of greyish and golden greens.



Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Monday, November 19, 2012

Mock Orange


The sweet smelling fragrance of the mock orange bush is wafting through the open windows of my studio today - delicious!




Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Rosy pinks


I am in love with Winsor and Newton's 'Opera Rose' watercolour paint at the moment!

Friday, November 9, 2012

Inspired by foxgloves


These colourful foxgloves have been blooming in my garden for weeks now - they were well worth the long wait.



Although the foxglove rates as a favourite flower for many, there are surprisingly very few textiles and wallpapers featuring this beautiful motif in the interiors marketplace. 


One designer who has tackled this difficult flower is UK designer Louise Body.
Pictured above is Louise's printed wallpaper panel Plant Life Set 2.



Detail of Plant Life Set 2


And I love this Foxglove printed linen fabric too.