Banksia Marginata

This is a scene depicting Banksia Marginata trees I saw while walking the three capes in Tasmania. The shrubs branches don't grow like conventional bushes. They grow in crazy ways often doubling back on themselves. The flower/cones start off growing in very bright oranges and die back to dark umbers until they look like they're burnt.
Painted Aug. 2025

Follow

For over 20 years I have dabbled in the visual arts. I have played around with painting, sketching, sculpture and lead lighting.

I have attended many courses to better understand art practices and specific skills. I spent some time attending Brisbane Institute of Art (BIA) at night whilst I worked in Queensland for 4 years.

I have always enjoyed loose, expressive works by other artists with strong colours and open interpretation of the subject. These works inspire me to chase expressive images rather than a photographic record of a subject. I try to look for a colour or a shape that resonates and create works that are pleasing to the eye. I constantly battle with the line between accuracy and detail and loose and naïve works.
I work with a wide range of mediums such as oil, acrylic, gouache, soft pastels and charcoal. My greatest love is doing portraits but who has time to sit for a portrait these days?

I hope people will enjoy my art as much as I enjoy doing it.

Kindest regards
Mat Thomas