INSPIRATION: Rightly called the King Protea, this magnificent huge flower is a masterful example of Fibbonnaci spirals in nature. When I was sketching it, a gorgeous green protea beetle surprised me by popping out from the middle of the flower.
Copyright Vicki Thomas 2016
INSPIRATION: I have kept the original of this painting as I still like it very much. The plant is a rare endemic and grows naturally in our garden. It is very special to me in many ways.
Copyright Vicki Thomas 2016
INSPIRATION: The Candelabra flower blooms around Easter every year along the coast. The original of this painting now lives in New York and has been shown at the prestigious Hunt Institute.
Copyright: Vicki Thomas 2016
INSPIRATION: The Arum Lily or Varkblom, because it is a favourite food of the porcupine that visits our garden, seldom gets to bloom properly before its roots are eaten, but when it does, its perfect curves make me want to paint it again and again.
Copyright Vicki Thomas 2016
INSPIRATION: A rare and slow growing protea that lives on the top of the mountains behind our home, this was a plant rescue project that my husband Robbie was involved in. He grew seedlings that were replanted in the wild to boost the numbers as there was concern they may become extinct due to too frequent fires. I have kept the original painting.
Copyright: Vicki Thomas 2016
INSPIRATION: One day in May the family went mushrooming, found these and brought them back for me to paint. They were so glorious I started them straight away, probably the quickest painting I have ever done, and one of the most satisfying.
Copyright: Vicki Thomas 2016
INSPIRATION: There is only a tiny colony of this agapanthus in the wild near Elgin, really threatened by too frequent fires and human encroachment, I was very lucky to be allowed to paint these two plants. Such a lovely blue.
Copyright: Vicki Thomas 2016
INSPIRATION: Not long after a fire this beautiful red flower popped up from a blulb that had long been hidden under the ground. The contrast of the blackened stumps and the stunning red was amazing.
Copyright: Vicki Thomas 2016