The stems, the leaves, the flowers

Some years ago, I met a friend-to-be. She was painting a large canvas opposite the door to her solo exhibition. She had been a practising artist all her life. She is inspirational in more ways than one. I hoped (and knew) that we would become friends. What I didn’t foresee was her becoming, at various times, my teacher, my mentor, my collaborator.

I am driven by learning. I want to know not just how, but why. I also need to practise to understand. A ‘kinesthetic learner’ I believe is the lingo. My friend has boundless, driven ideas and energy.

The opportunity came to help with a series of workshops Dawn was running as part of a large Arts Council project in Darwin’s Botanic Gardens. She’d developed a technique of layering botanicals – stems, leaves and flowers – with underglazes and oxides to create unique and beautiful ceramic tiles.

At the Gardens, under the shade of a glorious tree and beside fountains and water lilies, many volunteers helped people learn this new technique and create tiles that would be gifted to the Gardens for a public artwork. One of those people saw an opportunity to use similar tiles for her kitchen renovation. Time, and many life things, passed.

Eventually in 2023, Dawn and I created what would become a remarkable, practical artwork for Jane’s kitchen. It brings the magnificent outside in. It was nerve-wracking getting those colours right; the trust that Jane placed in us.

Dawn and I work well together. We are collaborators. We ran a series of Botanically Creative workshops in the gardens in 2022 which transformed people’s opinions of their own creativity. I have learnt so much. We have shared time, that precious commodity. We have enhanced an already beautiful space.

I was right. One thing did lead to another.

The stems, the leaves, they flowered.