What do you do with the leaves that fall from your gum trees? Sweep them up and add them to your compost? Leave them to return to the earth naturally?

Have you ever considered using them as a painting canvas? That’s exactly what I love to do - if I can find the right size and shape - ever since discovering a Painted Gum Leaf Exhibition at Mount White several years ago. I was fascinated by how different artists transformed leaves into intricate works of art.

Gum leaf painting has a rich history in Australia, dating back to the late 19th century. Victorian artist Alfred William Eustace painted landscapes on gum leaves at Black Dog Creek, inspiring others like the Beckett sisters, Frederick McCubbin, and more. During World War I, painted gum leaves were often sent by sweethearts and mothers to soldiers overseas as sentimental reminders of home.

Recently, I was thrilled to come across some large gum leaves on a property in Jamberoo. The owner, Barry Ahrens, kindly donated them for my creative projects. Using water-based oil paints and fine brushes, I’ve created my own landscapes in the tradition of this uniquely Australian art form. Here are a few examples.

If you’d like to learn more about gum leaf painting, feel free to contact me at [email protected].