Flora
Flora is a series of paintings inspired by my life on the Sunshine Coast and the rich beauty of its forests. The word flora refers to the plant life of a particular region, and in Roman mythology, Flora is the goddess of flowers and spring, a symbol of love, beauty, and abundance. The forest is where I feel most connected and inspired. Walking the trails with my dog, Juno, my husband, or with family and friends through places such as Cliff Gilker Park, Hidden Grove, and Smugglers Cove, I am continually drawn to the timeless, healing presence of moss, ferns, and towering trees. Their calm energy and majesty spark both wonder and creativity. I often pause to photograph mushrooms, fungi, flowers, mosses, and ferns along these walks, gathering visual notes for my work. Most of the pieces in Flora are acrylic on canvas. While grounded in observation, the paintings are not bound to realism; instead, I play with colours such as soft pink backgrounds and unexpected hues to evoke the mag...