New Batiks and paintings by Marina Elphick

I am inspired by the colours, textures and endlessly wonderful designs of nature, realised perfectly in tropical forests and jungles. Having travelled around Costa Rica, visiting several national parks, volcanos and cloud forests, I have vivid memories and helpful photographic reference.

Recent travels to Cambodia’s Ankor Wat region, where the jungle has taken over the ancient Temples, creating surreal and marvelous new landscapes, never fail to remind me of the amazing capacity of plants and nature. So too Indonesia, Bali’s lush vegetation, glorious colour and shapes, sculpted rice terraces with coconut palms and banana backdrops; these all provide inspiration for me.

The work I have illustrated here is only the start of a new theme that I am working on and will include batik and paintings; but also I hope to use textiles and embroidery more in future projects.

I worked on a series of oil paintings and pastels of Humming birds to complement the batiks and achieve finer detail in their tiny feathers.

Hermit, oil on Canvas

Long Tailed Sylph, oil

Swallow Tail, oil