Size: 1100 x 1100mm
Medium: Oil on stretched canvas
Year: 2024
In this large oil painting, I combined orange Pincushion Protea flowers (Leucospermum) with bright pink Malva flowers (Pelargonium) and tall, blue Aristea Capitata bulbous plants.
I often use Pincushion flowers in my art. I love the shapes created by the needles on the flower heads.
The blue Aristea flowers bloom spectacularly in Springtime on Table Mountain, where I often hike. I love the vertical lines and interesting shapes of the Aristeas and also the rare bright purple-blue colour!
This artwork is part of my “Transition” series:
Transition:
As the year 2023 comes to an end and the year 2024 begins, I find myself thinking about change. Some things stay the same, but mostly, I’ve learnt, that the world is constantly shifting, and change is inevitable. Change asks for adaptability.
In this time, my father (a beautiful and loving, almost 81-year-old man), became very ill. Our family and my mother suddenly found ourselves in a completely new and unexpected realm – having to deal with illness, medical care and depending on other people for support. We find ourselves in a transition period – adapting to the daily changing environment of health, sickness, and old age. Also, setbacks and hope. We know that change is inevitable.
There are parallels between us as humans and nature. The Cape Floral Kingdom is constantly changing through the year – season by season. The fynbos plants need to adapt to the changing weather conditions and adapt after summer wildfires. It has been adapting and changing for many years and is now robust, strong plants, able to grow in poor soil, withstand the harsh African sun, the strong Cape winds, the intermitted rainfall and has adapted to survive (most) wildfires. The southern coast of Africa is a challenging place!
I am thankful that in this personal transition period, we can depend on our Maker and Keeper of all things who is in control. The One who cares for nature, also cares for us as humans. Through change. In transition…