Jeff Makin: Elizabeth’s Garden

Leading landscape painter, Jeff Makin, returns to Brisbane with a series of new works rejoicing the lush surrounds of his own backyard in Central Victoria, exhibiting at Mitchell Fine Art from May 1 to 25. 

After five decades of depicting grand vistas, waterfalls and iconic landscapes, Makin has moved closer to home for his latest subject matter.  Inspired by the view from his home studio in Central Victoria, Makin explores his wife’s garden in this new exhibition.

Exploding with colour and life - lavender, roses, olive and fig trees, and an abundance of flowers - the garden has been a place of common ground for the artist and his wife Elizabeth, and a constant in their lives with cut flowers filling their home.

For this series of paintings, Makin has decided to leave the flowers where they are, offering a greater range of artistic expression.  He explains "I have chosen to leave them in the ground, rooted in their nurturing soil, thereby maintaining their identity as environment rather than collected specimens. This seems more natural, and for me helps for a freer interpretation away from strict empirical accuracy." 

Find out for yourself why Jeff Makin is recognised as one of Australia’s greatest living landscape painters, with this pictorial dedication to his wife of 48 years and the caretaker of this beautiful garden. 

Nice to know -  The artist will be in attendance for Opening Night on Friday, May 10 at 6pm. Makin will also present an Artist Talk on Saturday, May 11 at 2pm. 

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