Golden Wattle, 2026

Golden Wattle is one of the many beautiful Acacias flowering in late winter in Melbourne. Its perfume fills the air and is a heady reminder that spring is on its way. It’s one of about 1000 wattle species in Australia. They are often in full bloom when very little else is. This still life painting tries to capture the coming season and the fluffiness of the wattle flowers using loose strokes, sgraffito mark making and deep shadows.

David Crampton is a contemporary artist living in Melbourne and working mainly in oils. Although only recently taken to painting he has been painting in his mind his whole life. Architecture was the path he took, however native plants and gardens has always been his passion. As a self taught artist there has been a lot of experimenting and learning via informally studying artists, paintings and techniques. And a life time practicing architecture has sharpened his sense of colour combinations, light and shade. Water in vessels and how it distorts stems and background is also explored extensively in his still life paintings. These paintings allow David to closely study the forms and textures of the subjects as well as explore different mark making techniques.