A little information about my designs.....Banksia, Gumleaf, Seed Pods Banksias are my favourite trees. They are such an ancient form of vegetation that banksia fossils have been found, and they survive the worst that our climate can inflict on them. Several of my designs are influenced by our local flora. Bloodwood This design was inspired by a friend's request for a pot for her Singaporean daughter-in-law which featured an Australian theme and the colour red. I liked the result and have kept making it. Bloodwood trees of various species can be found all over Australia. We have a local species in our garden, Eucalyptus eximia, which is most attractive, with cream flowers. As a footnote to my friend's story, she is now the proud grandmother of Finola, a beautiful blend of cultures.Blue Labyrinth The Blue Labyrinth is a remote and rugged part of the Blue Mountains National Park. I like to represent it as an impenetrable jumble of mountains, layered one after another. Within this region, Mount Hall was struck by lightning in December 2001, triggering a terrifying bushfire which swept north and threatened several Blue Mountains towns before being brought under control by volunteer fire fighters from all over New South Wales as well as other Australian states. Burning Mountains Inspired by close encounters my family, friends and neighbours have had with bushfires over the years, it also represents the gratitude we feel to the wonderful “firies” (volunteer bushfire fighters) who come to help us when our homes are threatened. The design shows a lightning strike triggering the fire, the background mountains which have burnt, the foreground mountains now threatened by the advancing flames and the spot fires caused by embers carried in the wind. The sky is full of swirling clouds of smoke. Conundrum This design is all about sitting down with a blank space and seeing what happens! Illawarra I have based this design on one of my favourite parts of the world. The design incorporates the beaches with their rolling surf, the sweep of the escarpment, the green of the rainforest remnants, red for the Illawarra flame tree and, over it all, the sun. Mythical Fish I love painting fish! I have an ongoing series which I paint on pots or tiles; they have physical characteristics in common with real fish, but come straight from my imagination. Nepean River I live on a ridge which looks across the Nepean floodplain to the Blue Mountains. After rain, we have found stone scraping tools made by the Dharug people who lived here for thousands of years. The Nepean Valley was once under the ocean; there is a patch of coastal heath at Agnes Banks which is similar to that found on today's coastline. The colours used pay homage to the severe drought which has affected our area in recent times. Strata Living near the Blue Mountains, I can't help being impressed with the great cliff faces and their stories. Several trips to Arkaroola in the Flinders Ranges have also stimulated my enjoyment of truly ancient rockfaces. It's hard to walk around on this old continent and not have some of its mystery soak up through the soles of your feet. Tree I spent my childhood climbing in (and falling from!) trees and have had a great affection for all of them ever since. I love the way they occupy space, how their branches arch out and how their leaves contain light, shadow and movement. I love the sound of wind flowing through them - sometimes it sounds like a river around our house. Orange Tree The fertile river flats along the Hawkesbury-Nepean River produce a high percentage of Sydney's fruit and vegetables. We have a beautiful citrus orchard nearby where we can buy our oranges, lemons and mandarins. They also stock locally produced vegetables, jams, honey and olive oil. Like the other orchards found along the river, they are a valuable community resource, and this design was created for them.
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