Size: 600 x 650mm
Medium: Oil on stretched canvas
Year: 2025
I limited my colour palette and theme, for this painting where I only focused on the beautiful shapes and colours of the Helichrysum petiolare plant, also known as the liquorice plant or Kooigoed (Afrikaans).
I find it interesting that, in years gone by, this plant with it’s lovely liquorice aroma, was used as the stuffing for mattresses. It was also used as an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory remedy.
I used pink and green highlights with the blue-greys of the leaves to create visual interest, along with the organic shapes and lines from the plant itself.
This artwork is part of my Saunter-series:
The Saunter series invites you to join me on a journey through the Cape Floral Kingdom, where I explore the beauty of nature at my own pace. Inspired by the art of strolling, these paintings capture the essence of the fynbos landscape of Table Mountain, Cape Town, through my leisurely, idle wanders. Each step becomes a moment to pause, to wonder, and to absorb the intricate details of the flora around me.
Back in my studio, all the ideas and inspiration spill out as colour and shapes. My brush is charged with the energy of movement and colour, boldly bringing to life the scenes I’ve absorbed from nature. Through my work, I strive to mirror the rhythms of the wild — the wind stirring through the fynbos, the plants bursting with vibrant colour and shape, the seasons shifting, and new life constantly pushing through.
In this series, I remind myself to tread slowly, finding my Creator in creation. By moving through nature at a slow pace, I fill up with its energy, allowing new life and vitality to flow through my art.