The Art of Leesa Livermore
Murwillumbah
As a youngster in Bendigo, Victoria, I remember sitting at my nans house drawing and colouring in. She was an oil painter who used to paint pansy’s on soap boxes for gifts, and loved doing it. I also remember saying to nan, “When I grow up, I am going to be an artist”.  As I grew older, I left that dream behind.  Although I still loved art at school, I never studied it. 
 
Much has happened in my life since then, especially career paths. Everything from graphic designer to fitness instructor to govt. admin., its been a buzz.

​Now my focus is art - painting plants, flowers and tree-scapes. ... and loving it!  My time spent at the Caldera Wildscapes Gallery is precious. This is my escape from everyday work stress and it has reminded me that I had the right idea about who I wanted to be at a very young age.  
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​Mauve Water-Lily - nymphea species
Oil pastel

I am not sure of the exact species of this water-lily,  however I believe it to be in the ‘Nymphea’ family.  These beautiful flowers are born out of swamp mud and are most likely an introduced species of plant. 
 
The difference between a lotus plant and a water-lily is that water-lily flowers and leaves are thick and waxy while the lotus' are thin and papery. A water-lily also has a recognisable notch in each leaf and flower petals are pointed and create a star-like bloom; the lotus petal is more rounded, and sometimes has 'wavy frills'.
 
While creating this painting I was challenged by the darker shades of the murky waters, as I initially made them too dark.  I also found the centre of the flower difficult to re-create.   However, I am happy with the outcome.




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​Old Man Banksia - banksia serrata
Oil pastel
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Banksia serrata is commonly known as ‘Old Man Banksia’ because it's a survivor of the ages through its ability to withstand many bushfires. Furthermore, with its textured gnarly trunk, it gets better with age.
 
I saw this specimen growing in Dorset St, Murwillumbah while I was walking my dog.  The flowers stood out in contrast to the bright blue sky so I had to take a reference photo in order to paint this magnificent native plant.
 
While using oil pastels in this painting, I found it a challenge to create the serrations in the leaves due to their number and random  complexity.  The flower spikes also provided some difficulties.  At one stage I scraped most of the paint off the canvas and started again. However, I persevered, and am pleased with the result.   




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​Swamp Banksia - banksia robur
Oil pastel

As the name suggests, this banksia thrives in swampy areas and nearby slopes. It's found in the Tweed region along with several other 'showy' banksia species.
 
This particular specimen was seen, and photographed, at the Pottsville Golf Course when I was following the golfing 'prowess' of my husband and his friends. The beauty of the park-like setting, brilliant  sunshine and a couple of piccollos of wine were a great foil to the golf.
 
I really enjoyed creating this painting in oil pastel as I love the bright contrasting colours, but it took a while to finish.  The shiny leaves with their bright yellow veins, and the rusty colour of the Swamp Banksia make this image one of my favourites.  



​Gold Everlasting Paper Daisy
Oil pastel

​This paper daisy is native to the Tweed region and is best known for its stunning flowers.  All paper daisies have stiff petals and bright colours which remain vivid even when cut and dried. 
 
This was my third art piece created using the medium of oil pastels. 
 
The process of creating the dark shadows within the flower petals initially made them appear too dull. But with the application of strong pigment, brightness and strong contrast returned to the painting. I love the  orange/yellow colours making this flower appear like a sunflower. I am very happy the outcome and hope that it brings some sunshine into your day.





​Red Fruit - clivia species
Oil pastel

The Clivia plant is native to South Africa and is grown in most areas of Australia. It produces trumpet like flowers and adds a real vibrancy to a garden, especially when fruiting.
 
This particular Clivia was seen at the Pottsville Golf Course when I was following the golfing 'prowess' of my husband and his friends. The beauty of the park-like setting, brilliant  sunshine and a couple of piccollos of wine were a great foil to the golf. I captured this stunning image along with a banksia and water lily to re-create with oil pastels in my studio.
 
In creating ‘Red Fruit’ I had some difficulty painting the leaves, due to their number and complexity.  However, their colour contrasted with the glowing fruit and made ‘Red Fruit’, in oil pastel, my favourite creation so far.





​​​Lesser Swamp-orchid - Phaius australis
Oil pastel

Swamp-orchids produce the largest flowers of any Australian orchid. It is restricted in distribution to SE Qld and NE NSW and is listed as endangered in the Tweed.
 
This painting was my second art piece created using the medium of oil pastels.
 
I initially struggled with creating contrast between the flower petals as they appeared too flat.  On looking at the reference photo I identified the shade differences and included more contrast.  I like how this flower appears to ‘jump out’ of the canvas.  The completion of this painting has given me more confidence to tackle future projects and now feel that I can really do this ‘art thing’.  I haven’t stopped since.