Love at first sniff

I have been revisiting some of my older pieces, including this painting from 14 years ago. Feeling that the original background was too plain, I decided to introduce a warm beige damask wallpaper featuring subtle botanical forms. This soft, repeating pattern brings a sense of luxury and depth to the piece without distracting from the main subjects. It is wonderful to give this painting a new lease on life, and I hope it brings a touch of charm and lightness to those who view it. I’ve titled it: Love at First Sniff... LOL.

Sweet Light

This painting began with a simple, joyful reference photo of classic licorice allsorts casually arranged on a flat surface. I wanted to elevate these lollies by placing them on a crisp white plate under dramatic, directional lighting to create a chiaroscuro effect. Painting these 'bonbons' in oil was both fun and deeply rewarding; it was the kind of work that felt like bringing a little piece of joy to life on the canvas. A big thank you to Jeffrey from the Adelaide Art Society for generously sharing the original photograph that inspired this piece. It was the perfect starting point.