Flowers & Still Life

The language of symbolism has always formed the basis of my work, influenced predominately by my time in east Arnhem Land where story telling through painting was prevalent and later with the study of Persian art at university. Flower symbolism forms the basis of my still-lifes, originated in the orient it then flourished thereafter in the western world. There are hundreds of flowers with particular meanings; even dictionaries and books have been dedicated to their symbolic meaning. Each bud nestled in the vase will represent the personality of the person whom commissioned the flower portrait.

This style of painting progressed with the creation of my ‘still life portraits’ where instead of a figure being represented in the painting each flower, trinket and item told the story of the sitter to be unravelled by the voyeur. With these still life’s I endeavour to tap into the viewers curiosity, inviting them in, then challenges them to unravel it’s secrets.

All of my still lives are constructed with rich textural backgrounds; bold stylised imagery and bright primary hues, which have become quite predominate in most of my paintings.