by Stephanie Haslam: Noosa Integrated Catchment Association has been successful in obtaining a Regional Arts Development Fund grant to broaden the scope of their Noosa’s Native Plants Surface Design project that seeks to increase awareness of native flora by incorporating it in fabric design.  As well as the Community Art Competition, NICA has commissioned four professional artists to produce designs and mentor community artists.

Noosa’s native plants provide all our artists and designers with plenty of examples.  In this, the 4th of 5 related articles, today’s illustration shows textural and background effects of four more local plants.  In each case two contrasting elements have been chosen. 

The common paperbark Melaleuca quinquenervia is famous for its subtly coloured and textured trunk.  Here it is seen contrasting with a piece of old timber from a dead tree that has fallen into the water and become a home for shipworms.

Macrozamia lucida, a cycad, one of the cone-bearing plants dating from the age of the dinosaurs, shows a ripe green female cone with its yellow-tinged seeds contrasting with a section of dark brown male cone showing the pollen sacs.

Alphitonia excelsa, the soap tree, is often seen with a colourfully mottled trunk.  This pattern is produced by lichens, so another plant-like organism is involved here.  The contrasting fruits show their red seeds.  Soap trees are great insect and bird-attractors with many medicinal properties and cultural uses.

Eucalyptus racemosa shows its scribbly gum trunk and fragile blossoms.  Like all eucalypts, the bark is shed annually producing variations in colour and texture.

The scribbles, caused by a tiny insect under the surface, are already a popular design motif and sure to be seen in the Art Competition.

See www.noosariver.com.au for more information and to catch up on earlier articles about the project.

Four local native plants show textural and background design potential
Photography: Stephanie Haslam