acacia

For ‘Small Wonders’ 2022  |  Wonderground Barossa, Seppeltsfield

Acacias are a fascinating family of plants. We have over 30 species naturally occuring on the lower Eyre Peninsula, (with many more grown in home gardens, including my own). I paint them every season, as they provide me with abundant still life material when almost nothing else is flowering.

The various species that grow in our wild spaces such as the Lincoln and Coffin Bay national parks are of particular interest, as they play a vital part in the delicate coastal ecosystems of these areas. They provide essential habitat for birds, small mammals and insects, they are able to grow in harsh conditions, and as they are legumes, they can acquire nitrogen directly from the atmosphere through nodules on the roots of the plant. They are often the first plants to regenerate after bushfires.

These paintings were each made in a single sitting, working quickly and mostly from life (most wattles last such a short time in the vase it’s possible to turn your back and find the flowers have fallen onto the bench or shrivelled up completely). I found it a great learning exercise to focus on one species at a time, collecting information as I worked, and trying to highlight the unique characteristics of each variety in its own ‘portrait’. I collected some samples thinking I had found a new variety only to discover the microclimate in which it had grown had resulted in a particular plant looking quite different to others of its kind.

I’ve connected with many a gardener/nature enthusiast over a shared love of wattles and I think most Australians share my nostalgia for these plants.