Description
I was inspired to draw this gorgeous old-growth tree. The tree is the Mountain Orange Gum (Eucalyptus prava) and grows near the top of the Great Dividing Range on the Granite Belt on a friend’s property. As I drove ever-higher elevations to visit this tree, I was struck by the drama of the surrounding landscapes. Sheered-off granite boulders were rounded smooth by centuries of rain.
I sat beside this ancient tree, and I could feel its strong presence and enduring life force. This tree seems to almost grow out of the granite rock here. I drew its many delightful protuberances and painted its beautiful honey colours as well as adding splashes of orange and deep red onto the paper. I felt its aged wisdom in my lines.
The Mountain Orange Gum forms part of the forests of the upper water catchment of the Clarence Valley, Northern NSW. These forests slow the movement of water, as it travels downhill into gullies and creeks towards the Clarence River. As I painted and sketched, I thanked the Mountain Orange Gum for its wisdom and fortitude.
