Collection: Perfect Imperfections

To be aware of someone’s or somethings flaws and see beyond them – to see the flaws as an asset that makes someone or something perfect. A perfect imperfection is a flaw that is so perfect that it no longer appears as a flaw.

This collection of drawings showcases a variety of fallen gum leaves foraged with my daughters while out bush walking over late summer. This time spent with my girls often provides new inspiration to take into the studio. Their youth finds the most beautiful details in the simplest things. I find this feeds my soul where I constantly look for the beauty in everyone and everything. I knew these timeless adventures with my girls needed to be captured in a visual art form.

We set off for a Sunday walk to forage for natives to bring home and make rustic floral arrangements together. Grace and Ivy began collecting dried gum leaves and shared their delight and admiration in their unique form and colour palette. Straight away their passion for these fallen leaves invited me to look closer. As we marvelled at the small varying imperfections I immediately wanted to take them back to the studio to draw so we all collected a handful. We laid them out on the drawing table before the girls proudly displayed their own leaves in a line to show off their colour palettes and form. Their ability to balance both of these aspects inspired me to do the same. We spent some time together re-arranging our collection of leaves into different layouts to illustrate as a collection.

During this time, I shared my passion for admiring an individual’s unique beauty and characteristics while subtly comparing the leaves to humans. Specifically, that we all go through challenging times that can leave scars and marks, just like the imperfections in the leaves. However, it is how we work through these challenges that make those unique, beautiful imperfections reminders of our strength and courage. This is the beauty I see when looking closely at these fallen and discarded leaves. Completely unique and ever changing as they age and go through the process, becoming more beautiful when you look closer into their depth of detail. We must remember that our scars are just perfect imperfections unique to us, adding to our story.

Each artwork signifies the beauty and purity in the simple imperfections that make us unique. I wanted each artwork to embody the cohesive colour palettes while highlighting the individuality in each leaf. The earthy tones perfectly capture the spirit and freedom of the Australian bush. The placement of the leaves are free flowing, laying among one another in company which also showcases their natural form and state in which they are found. I envisage these illustrations will deliver a sense of reassurance to their collector that everything has beauty, you just have to look closer. We all need to take the time to admire our own beautiful perfect imperfections, something I endeavour to continue to teach my two daughters daily.