Ode to Spring

Ode to Spring Original Oil on Canvas 102cm x 76cm

John’s Inspiration: “The painting has been adapted from several photographs taken recently on a friend’s property on the outskirts of Murrurundi.

The name of the property is Coogah and the owner, a lady named Linda, raises organic cattle and sheep.

I was travelling around the property in her small farm vehicle with a border collie, Baxter draped across my knees as there wasn’t any room for him to sit in the little vehicle. I was taking photographs and drone footage for a new website that Linda was preparing and in the process was able to capture some quite magnificent stretches of pastureland, trees and mountains.

The painting depicts an early spring morning, jacarandas in the background and still some low-lying mist around the cottage and the barn. With the light slanting in from a low angle, all contribute to the feeling of a fresh start to the day. The foreground is really the feature of the painting as it contains a number of different wildflowers in full bloom, and this would be in the area prior to the farm itself which has cleared paddocks and pastures whereas the foreground is pretty much in its wild state. A small track, partly overgrown, meanders into the painting through an S bend which lengthens our visual path. The large tree on the left was one of the featured gums I photographed whilst on the tour of the farm.

The title,” Ode to Spring” is really paying homage to a rather special time in the Australian landscape which is often perceived as rather drab and grey. However, come spring in certain areas, if one knows where to look, a riot of wildflowers and flowering bushes really capture the essence of an Australian Spring.”

Original painting by John Bradley.