Tropical flowering trees and rainforest flowers such as orange
heliconias and red ginger flowers, set in the distinctive landscape of
North Queensland, have been an enduring theme of Tania Heben’s oil
paintings for decades.
Spectacular, brilliant red poinciana trees, the golden pendas and purple
jacarandas burst into bloom. Blue and pink water lilies, floating on the
surface of billabongs attract jacana birds to walk on their leaves,
searching for food. Gardens, parks and bushland come alive in November
and December, as if to herald the approach of the annual monsoon in this
tropical rainforest climate.
Colourful flowering trees frame and give shade to ‘Queenslander’ houses,
‘high-set’ on stilts to take advantage of passing breezes and to be
safe from occasional floods. They line streets and country roads or find
their way across hillsides, giving a splash of lively colour to
surrounding dark green jungle.
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The golden penda (xanthostemon chrysanthus), floral emblem for Cairns
Regional Council, is one of Tania’s favourite tropical flowering trees.
This attractive, medium sized rainforest tree, with glossy dark green
leaves and spectacular covering golden blossoms is native to the coastal
strip between Townsville and Cape York.
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The golden penda is commonly used in road verges, as windbreaks, for hedges or in home gardens. It
is related to the eucalypts and bottle-brushes, evident in the way that
the clusters of long-stamened, bird attracting flowers grow. |
Tania’s oil painting techniques involve deciding on the composition
of her painting, blocking it in with thinned down paint, then gradually
building the layers, often from darks to lights with paint that is
increasingly thicker than previous layers. Details and
adjustments come last, whether that’s a landscape with tropical
flowering trees or a carefully positioned still life or floral study
highlighting rainforest flowers.
Should you be interested in commissioning Tania to paint a particular
scene of flowering trees, a still life composition or special landscape,
the process would begin with discussions with her, followed by
sketches, which give your ideas concrete form. If you are happy with the
general scope of the developing painting then work on it will continue,
with Tania reporting to you periodically.
Tania may be contacted via the form below or through her
website.
Original Tropical Paintings
Tania Heben Digital Fine Art Prints
Tania Heben CV
Virtual Gallery - Online Art Exhibitions
Art in Tropical Australia Home Page