Country homestead, NSW

‘Nurturing’

A large custom-sized piece to create a ‘window’ filling a hallway nook. Aiming to reconnect the home owners with the local forests, not visible from their country home set high on rolling farmland hills in the Bega Valley.

The challenge of this piece was that, in the side of a hallway, it would often be viewed from close proximity. Yet it was large, at 180cm high by 90cm wide and would sit almost a ground level. I wanted to entice viewers into the forest scene, as though they could step in and wander off into the bush. I designed a composition that set the trees back, with saplings and bracken in the foreground which communicate with the existing flooring.

I wanted to fall in love with little areas of the canvas where I could see loads of interest up close. It needed to be full of delicate detail and texture like the forest. That way, the whole canvas develops into a rich tapestry.  

Bold turquoise and royal blue under-painting peeks through earthy, coppery tones to create depth and interest, while the painting is overall very grounding and gentle.

As the Collectors were interstate, I visited the house to get a feel for the space and decor palette, then shared progress and artist-in-action photos by email, and the Collectors visited the studio for a final viewing before framing.

Framing by Discount Framing Gallery, Belconnen. Maple stained oak.