The Curly Gumleaf

"The Curly Gumleaf" by Anica Amphlett is an original watercolour painting and requires framing to hang.

Gumleaves come in all shapes and sizes and are an Australian icon. I've portrayed this collection of gum leaves in pinky, greeny-grey tones with a more golden curly leaf being the centre of attention. I love their diversity, their odd shapes and their meaning in our culture. Nutritious for our animals and therapeutic for us humans, gum leaves withstand the harsh environment, cleanse the air we breathe and adorn our countryside.

Mission: I strive to express emotion in my artwork and hopes it resonates with you too. I also hope that it lifts a special spot in your home. My style is a combination of looseness and detail, allowing watercolour to do its magic and then adding some detail bringing the subject to life.

Images: The framed image above is for illustration purposes only and all care is taken for artwork to be proportionally as correct as possible in "the in-situ" image.

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Born in 1963 to Slovenian parents, I divided my first 20 years between Australia and Slovenia. My love for art took root in early childhood. I vividly recall the arrival of my first mail-order acrylic paint set and a "How-to-paint" book featuring a classic lesson on painting a fruit bowl. Discouraged from pursuing Art School, I relegated my dreams to a hobby and became self-taught.

At seventeen, during a visit to Switzerland to see a friend, I found myself with only 20 Swiss Francs. I chose to invest half in paper and paints. After painting all night, I sold three paintings the next day, which luckily saved me from a bind.

I've always been drawn to a variety of mediums—oils, acrylics, gouache, pastels, and lately, watercolors. My goal? To capture both light and emotion. I recall as a teenager pondering if paint could be used in such a way that it breathes life into a canvas. This curiosity has stayed with me over time. Each medium offers a unique avenue for self-expression, yet the subtle conveyance of emotion and vitality remains my never-ending challenge and aspiration.

I am inspired by Australia's vast beauty, the diverse landscape, colourful birdlife, amazing flora and fauna! I am mesmerised by the power of the sun and am in awe of great artists both past (Vincent Van Gogh) and present such as Thomas Schwaller and Alvaro Castagnet.