Once Bitten, Twice Shy

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Delma considers herself a Contemporary Botanic Artist. Traditionally, Botanical art is executed in watercolour or graphite, actual size with a plain background. Contrary to tradition she paints in oils, on canvas, in full saturated colour. The plant must be readily identified and is always larger than life, even though the work maybe a miniature. The subject is always ‘in situ’, in reference to the larger ecosystem. Delma always locates the subject in its natural habitat. Delma paints intricate detail to be true to the beauty of nature. She doesn’t paint impressions of flowers. It is her purpose to capture the reason for its existence and how it looks and survives and its interactions with other plants and animals. I want the viewer to be fascinated by the beauty and uniqueness of Western Australian flora and to consider the environment. I want them to see and feel what I did when I found that little orchid glowing in the sun and its petals fluttering in the breeze.Going out bush to isolated places in Western Australia inspires Delma works in pastels of Rural Life. Her Still Life studies enable her to work in her studio on the effects of light on everyday objects.