HOLLY HOCKS

Hollyhocks were a common garden flower when I was a child. Then they went out of fashion.

They represent nostalgia for me. I love the way they stand tall and straight with beautiful flowers growing the length their huge stalks.

In recent years I have again noticed them in suburban gardens.

Cottage garden staple, hollyhocks bloom mid-summer with numerous flowers on tall spikes. . The flower stalks on hollyhocks can reach heights of 2.5 m tall.

Hollyhock plants are thought to be originally native to East Asia, where they have roots in ancient Japanese culture.

Follow

AUSTRALIAN ARTIST
I am an Australian artist working in Adelaide, South Australia. I paint mostly in oil, but occasionally use acrylic paints. Landscapes, seascapes, cityscapes, flower paintings and abstract paintings are included in my repertoire of work.

INSPIRATION FOR MY ART
As an Australian artist, my inspiration comes from whatever is around me at a particular time. As an example, following a recent trip to the mid north of South Australia, I produced a series of landscape paintings, which include the beautiful Eucalyptus trees and flowers from local gardens.

ARTIST STATEMENT
I have always loved colour. My paintings as a child were mostly large areas of very, very loud colour.
I paint because I love to. Taking delight in seeing what emerges from the canvas, and I still love colour.
Painting with other artists is a time to spend time with other human beings, without having to talk.
Painting alone is a special time to forget everything else, to get lost in the process of creativity, of colour and line, and light and dark.
During different stages of life I have made more time for painting. Now is one special time in my life when I can devote lots of time to painting.