Olives, Zizyphus and Oranges

As a child in a family of 8 children I have wonderful memories of jam and sauce making.
We children helped with the cutting up of tomatoes, apricots and plums. The particular fruit would be placed in a very large pot, with either sugar, spices or salt added and left to steep overnight.
The sweet smell of jam cooking invokes in me a sense of the security of childhood.
I have inherited this love of preserving food. However, due to the influence of time and other cultures, my methods and choice of preserving method can vary.
The painting depicts olives that I have foraged and pickled, and home grown oranges that have been dried. The fruit in front is Zizyphus jujube. It is used in tincture form for anxiety and insomnia, and in fruit form as a laxative.

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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.