Once Upon a December

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. 

And suddenly… Christmas! I can hardly believe I was writing about spring only a few short weeks ago, and now we’re hauling out the Christmas trees, planning party menus, and scrambling for last‑minute gifts. They don’t call it the silly season for nothing. 

Finding My Spark

The past couple of months have been full—both on and off the easel. It all began when a dear arty friend (Rammi at Ramneek Creations) invited me to join a painting challenge. We used the same floral reference but were free to choose any medium and size. We gave ourselves a week, which meant many late nights squeezed in around day jobs. It was the biggest creative spark I’ve had in ages. I’d been feeling flat and uninspired, and this challenge brought me right back to life. 

Our muse was a luscious red rose—the classic Papa Meilland—with velvety reds melting into deep shadows and little flashes of ultraviolet along the petal edges. An absolute dream to paint. I chose oils on a panoramic canvas, something a bit different for me. Most of it came together during that week, though of course I’ve continued fussing over it ever since, as I do.   

The Waratah That Stole the Show

No sooner had I put down the rose than I dove straight into my long‑awaited waratah painting—as if I hadn’t had enough red for one season. But I treated myself to some new Michael Harding oils to make the experience even more delicious. They’re so buttery and smooth 😍 The waratah, with its leathery bracts and tightly curled perianth tubes that unfurl as it matures, is such a striking and complex bloom. I ended up painting a pair instead of the single flower I’d planned. The larger one was just beginning to open, revealing the style and stigma. I’ve said it before: watching a flower evolve through its life cycle fascinates me. I really should have been a botanist. 

Finishing Touches and Fiddly Blooms

In classic fashion, I’d been procrastinating the final touches on my Café au Lait dahlia—even

though there was barely anything left to do. But she’s heading to an art show and needed time to cure, especially with those creamy, warm whites that take their sweet time drying. 

I also worked on two smaller 30 cm square pieces. Funny how working small can be even more fiddly and time‑consuming 😜 I revisited an old favourite: magenta hydrangeas I’d previously painted at a larger scale. Hydrangeas are such intriguing blooms, with their showy sepals and tiny inner petals—like a flower within a flower. The other small piece is another take on my beloved Café au Lait dahlia 😍 I can’t help myself. And now I’m eagerly watching my own dahlia plants grow, hoping for blooms in the new year. 

Summer of Exhibitions

In other exciting news, I’ve had the opportunity to exhibit a few pieces at Ginger’s Vintage Lounge Bar in Goodwood, alongside several other local artists. It feels wonderful to have the work out in the world—and maybe even gain a few new followers along the way. 

And coming up in January (10th–17th) is the Victor Harbor Art Show, where I’ll have three pieces on display. If you’re in the area, do pop in. It’s a fantastic way to discover new artists and explore a huge variety of subjects, mediums, and styles. 

There is another opportunity in the works and I look forward to sharing more with you soon!

2025 - That's a Wrap!

As we reach the end of December, this will be my final blog for 2025. I have plenty planned for next year—including continuing the story of my French Art School adventure. These things cannot be rushed! 

Wishing you a joyful, safe Christmas and New Year. I can’t wait to share more with you in 2026. 

If you’d like to see the roses, waratahs, dahlias and hydrangeas I’ve been chatting about, several of these new pieces are now up on my website Gallery. You can wander through the latest work at www.vanessaosborneart.com, and if anything catches your eye, I’m always happy to chat—just send me a note at vanessaosborneart@gmail.com.

And if you enjoy following the behind‑the‑scenes chaos of the studio (and the occasional weather rant), come join me on Instagram and Facebook. There’s plenty more colour, texture and creative mischief on the way as we head into 2026.

Let’s keep finding beauty in the everyday, one brushstroke at a time.