Jacinta Payne

Jacinta Payne is a Warrandyte artist who aims to tread as lightly as possible on our beautiful planet.

Drawing inspiration from the local surrounds, Jacinta uses her creativity to express her commitment to preserving nature’s precious resources, and to raise awareness of the need to protect the earth as best we can.  

Many of the artworks Jacinta creates are made using reclaimed or upcycled materials. A scrap of denim, a canvas found on the side of the road, fallen branches and paint peelings from her palettes.

“Observing the understorey of the forest while bushwalking, my fascination lies with the ground, or at most, eye-level, where so many colours, patterns, shapes & textures draw my attention. A kaleidoscope of fallen leaves and twigs, bark, moss, and rocks. And beautiful wild flowers that pop up here and there. A flash of pink or a speck of purple or yellow through the scrub always requires closer inspection; a photograph, maybe a quick sketch.

“Often the exact same spot will catch my eye on different days because of the way the light changes the scene so dramatically. I love the colours in the rocks of the hills and gullies, glowing in the afternoon light, or fading into shadow at dusk. Moonrise brings yet another perspective. And after rain, the colours of the bush are heightened, the browns darker, the greens brighter, the flowers almost iridescent against the wet ground.

And nothing beats the smell of the bush after the rain.

As impossible as it is to capture that scent, these paintings inspired by the local forest understorey, hopefully somehow capture the essence of the bush where we live.”

Jacinta Payne, Warrandyte, 2021.