The Story

A lot of my work has leaned to vibrant palettes, but I love understated pieces too – ones that focus on texture and composition over boldness of colour. I was already planning a softer palette series to show my range, and creating two pieces for one of Torquay's favourite Dining Spots, Doc Hughes, felt like the perfect moment.

I wanted two different styles unified by the same muted tones. The neapolitan palette sparked a celebratory theme, stirring childhood memories. This repetitive textured stroke style invites different interpretations—some see petals, some see scales. My mind went to flickering candle flames rising upward. Hence the name: Blow Out The Candles.

The Creation

I used a palette knife to apply each stroke, grabbing different ratios of pink, cream, taupe, and apricot, with every swipe – making each one slightly unique in colour and tone. I painted this in my Torquay studio with my Frenchie Stella keeping me company. For once, I sat at my bar stool with the canvas on my easel instead of working on the floor – a nice change of pace. The repetitive motion became meditative, building up the surface stroke by stroke until the whole canvas was alive with dimension. The muted palette of blush, cream, grey, and taupe feels both contemporary and timeless, fitting seamlessly into coastal or urban interiors. It's a piece that rewards close inspection – the more you look, the more variation you see in each individual mark.

The Piece

60 x 60cm, acrylic with impasto medium on canvas.