In Glow #1, I explore the transformative moment when the wattle erupts in the Australian bush. This work is part of a series that seeks to capture not just the color, but the 'vibration' of the landscape during this seasonal shift. The yellow of the wattle acts as a luminous pulse against the complex, muted textures of the scrubland—a sudden burst of energy that changes the way we perceive the familiar terrain.
Working with oil and cold wax on board, I built the surface through deliberate layers to create a sense of 'inner light.' The wax allows the yellow pigment to sit with a soft, matte intensity, mimicking the dusty, pollen-heavy glow of the blossoms. Rather than a literal botanical study, this painting is a meditation on the atmosphere of the bush: the hum of light, the tangled shadows, and the resilience of a landscape that constantly finds ways to renew its own radiance.
48cm x 42 cm Oil and wax on board
Glow #1 ( wattles in bushland) | Nat Ward
Look for the 'hum' of the yellow against the shadowed depths. This work asks you to stay with the surface until the 'glow' feels as though it is vibrating—a celebration of the brief, intense radiance that occurs when the wattle takes hold of the bushland.