Inspired by the fantastical plant kingdom in Walt Disney's Alice in Wonderland (1960), I set out to find forms in the natural world that gave me a feeling of awe and wonder. Soon, I came across: Eucalyptus Trees.
When their tannin-filled bark peels, vibrant streaks of colour are revealed, creating a beautiful juxtaposition of natural tones against rainbow-coloured streaks, which I see as a metaphor for the spirit encased in matter. These other-worldly trees made me feel in awe of the natural world, and instantaneously, I knew this was what I wanted to paint.
Firstly, I spread crackle paste onto a primed canvas to create a cracked surface similar to bark. Once dry, I employed automatic drawing with oil bars and charcoal to add primal marks to the piece. Next, I applied washes of acrylic paint in shades of peach, beige and brown to resemble the colour of bark and human skin. Then, using a squeegee, I painted streaks of purple, pink, orange, blue and gold, gradually building from washes to impasto layers, to create depth and a feeling of transcendence.