Through the Cork Oaks

One of my favourite places to walk in Canberra, the cork oak plantation has a character all of its own. The trees stand in loose rows, their trunks marked by the harvesting of cork. The contrast between the dark harvested sections and the pale bark above first drew me to this scene. Repeated through the grove, the trunks create a rhythm that leads the eye through the landscape.This painting is as much about the feeling of the place as it is about the trees themselves. Dappled light filters through the canopy and creates a bright, airy atmosphere. I wanted to capture the sense of calm that comes from wandering among the trees and the enjoyment I find in returning to this place.