“Naiouli in Blue” showcases delicate, brush-like, white flowers set against a background of dark green leaves and a clear blue sky. The cool colour palette creates a relaxing and harmonious mood. The abstract textures in the sky are flecked with hints of purple, breathing life into the artwork. The exquisite details of the painted flowers are so fine, you can almost hear the bees hum.
These are the flowers and leaves of an Australian paperbark tea-tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia). When I saw it, the tree was covered in white shaggy blossoms, a magnet for ants, birds and droning insects. I am an avid essential oil enthusiast, so you can imagine my excitement when I realised that this is the tree species that Naiouli essential oil is extracted from.