Shakespeare's line "the past is prologue " figures in my progession for this painting. It is an enlarged detail of a previous work which hopefully will go on to have its own life. Growing in front of a golden levee, these gums enforce the yellows and reds of a sandy embankment, behind which is enclosed the muted grey greens of a redgum forest. It's about the colours and patterns of our fabulous bush. In this redgum forest I feel Sydney Long's painterly art nouveau presence!