Selected as a Finalist in the Fisher’s Ghost Art Prize 2025, this work is a study in movement and fragility within the Australian bush. It focuses on the 'quaking grass' (Briza maxima)—a delicate, introduced species that has become part of the local ecology, known for its paper-like seed heads that shiver in the slightest breeze.
By building layers of oil and cold wax on board, I sought to capture the sensory experience of the scrub: the dry rustle of the grass and the filtered, shifting light. The wax allows for a translucent, low-sheen surface where the fine, trembling stems of the grass are etched into the pigment. This painting celebrates the resilience found in the small and the fleeting, inviting the viewer to notice the intricate beauty of the undergrowth that is often overlooked in favor of the wider landscape.
 
Oil and wax on canvas framed 170cm x 120cm