Caricatures are great for exercising observation and hand-eye coordination but I only do them for fun. My real love is the Australian landscape.

Tonight I was flipping through some old photos and found one of a WA Christmas Tree (Nuytsia floribunda). It was essentially and abstract rush of bright oranges against near-neutral blues and greens. I had to do something with it.

Here’s the result of about an hour and a half’s painting in Photoshop.

nuytsia floribunda Christmas tree painting
 (Nuytsia – digital painting. Original 1800 x 1200px . © 2010, Andy Dolphin)

I think I need to try it in oils now.