By now I had reached the halfway mark and was still barely able to believe it was all real! I'd been to Paris and fallen in love with this beautiful city despite being so sure that I would hate the busyness and noise, and now I was in the centre of France, existing in another time and place, or so it seemed. And today, our little group were off to see more of the sites – villages, markets, and gardens.

What a month it’s been, and indeed - what a year! Summer has finally decided to show up—though only just. Adelaide has been dragging its feet with cool days hovering around 20°C, which feels far too wintery for my liking after such a long cold stretch. And in true Adelaide fashion, we’ve gone straight from one extreme to the other: 20°C one day, 38°C the next, and then plunging back down again. Never a dull moment with this climate.

There’s nothing like the perfume of fresh lemons. So refreshing and spirit lifting. I think that is their special power. And now lemons are my favourite fruit to paint...

Spring has sprung in Adelaide, and the studio is blooming with inspiration! From rose-filled garden musings to a waratah photo shoot extravaganza, this post dives into the floral frenzy fueling Vanessa’s latest creations. Discover new artworks now live in the Shop and Gallery, get a behind-the-scenes peek at works-in-progress, and hear all about her rainy-day delivery to the Walkerville Art Show. It’s a joyful celebration of colour, creativity, and seasonal magic.