Whispers Of Twilight: Myrtle Branches and Crystal Dreams

Myrtle at twilight presents a captivating spectacle, where the soft glow of the setting sun casts a magical light on the lush greenery and delicate blooms of the myrtle plant.

As day transitions into night, the vibrant hues of the myrtle leaves deepen, creating a stunning contrast against the dimming sky. This enchanting time not only highlights the beauty of the myrtle but also invites reflection and tranquility, making it a perfect moment to appreciate nature’s artistry.

Whether you're a gardener, a nature enthusiast, or simply someone seeking solace, witnessing myrtle at twilight can be a truly inspiring experience.

Common Myrtle

COMPOSITION: Tactile Artwork: Shadow Box Display Case for Crystals, Charms, Amulets

BRIEF: To create a poster sized canvas framed by a shadow box display case, set with a twilight backdrop, adorned with sculpted detail, tactile real wood branching, artificial foliage, and backlit with led strip lighting.

The display case needs to open from the front while hung on the wall, and be able to hang a variety of adornments for its owner. Whether that is jewellery, crystal gemstone pendants, or even dream catchers.

The purpose of the display case is to be practical and functional for the sensory needs of its owner.

This is a piece that will become the flagship prototype for a future potential customisation market, and so will appeal to the sensory, boho or spiritual sensitive owner who is looking for an unique artwork that complements their aesthetic but provides an useful practicality.

MEDITATIVE FOCAL: As the sun sinks below the horizon, casting a twilight glow across the landscape, there's a certain magic that begins to unfold. For many, this ethereal time of day invites us to witness the delicate dance between light and shadow, and it is this enchanting backdrop where the slender branches of myrtle come alive.

Myrtle, with its lush foliage and charming flowers, has long been associated with love and tranquility. In the softening twilight, the vibrant greens take on deeper hues, creating a stunning contrast against the dusky sky. The gentle sway of myrtle branches in the evening breeze adds a lyrical quality, as if whispering secrets to nature to those who take a moment to pause.

To amplify this scene, imaging strands of crystal hangings cascading from the myrtle branches. Each crystal catches the fading light, creating an array of sparkling reflections that dance through the air. The delicate clinks create a soothing melody, harmonising perfectly with the distant sounds of chirping crickets and rustling leaves. These crystals not only reflect the remnants of daylight but also act as beacons of dreams, inviting night wanderers to engage with their aspirations under the spell of the stars.

Adding to the allure are shimmering dream catchers suspended from the myrtle's limbs. Traditionally crafted to filter our negativity and inspire positive dreams, these beautifully woven artifacts echo the spirit of the environment around them. As twilight deepens into night, the dream catchers become vessels for wishes, collecting hopes under the expansive universe filled with twinkling stars.

Each strand on the dream catcher sways gently, reminiscent of the intricated web of stories we each carry. Under the watchful gaze of the moon, it feels as though the entire world is holding its breath, ready to share in the dreams that are captured and nurtured beneath the myrtle branches. There's a sense of unity in this setting - between human, nature, and the cosmos.

As the sky transitions from twilight to a glossy indigo dotted with stars, let us take a moment to reflect. The beauty of myrtle branches adorned with crystal hangings and dream catchers serves as a reminder of the delicate thread that weaves our dreams together. It's a celebration of hope and wonder, a call to embrace the night's potential with open hearts and minds.

In this tranquil haven, with branches swaying ever so softly against the night, we find solace in their presence. The myrtle speaks of resilience, the crystals of clarity, and the dream catchers of possibility.

So, next time twilight descends, seek out a place where myrtle thrives. Allow yourself to be enveloped in its embrace, and dream without limits. After all, every crystal glint and every whispering leaf holds the promise of new beginnings.

JOURNAL ENTRIES:

28 July 2025

Today marks the first stage of the first composition art project for the 'Country Twilight' thematic collection for the Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival in 2026.

I couldn't be more excited about the journey ahead, I was wanting to begin days before but had 'real life' to deal with first (you know, being a social butterfly in the city etc)

So when the chance came for me to be able to have an afternoon to apply a twilight blue base layer on the canvas, a colour that evokes a sense of calm and depth, it was a perfect starting point for the exploration I wanted to undertake.

The process began with clearing the workspace by ensuring that I had a clean and well constructed canvas. Checking over for the little things like weaknesses or structural integrity blemishes which would affect its longevity. I had deliberately chosen authentic canvas and not the manmade fabric of the cheaper canvas; believe it or not there is an difference on the market and so was worth the acquisition of a quality authentic product for the exhibition.

Even if the owner of any of my work wouldn't know and possibly not even be aware about what quality the canvas was for purpose, I did, and so as part of the studio branding, care for detail in quality assurance for sellable work mattered to me.

Accessing a pre-prepared canvas certainly made things a lot easier and less time consuming for this composition. Normally I would add a layer of gesso just to give it an extra layer of prime, but because I had plans to use l.e.d. backlighting to illuminate behind the canvas as part of its signature aesthetic, I wanted to give it a more natural transparent luminosity effect for when the light is activated.

Doing a background baseline to build upon, the application was relatively simple at this stage of things. I literally prepared my roller sponge brush and poured the warm blue acrylic paint in spots across the canvas and started getting smooth base coverage on the side panels of the canvas first.

Although the canvas will be destined for window box framing and the sides would be covered, to allow for potential ageing of the canvas, thus minor shifts in the fabric or the frame construction will ensure that time will not reveal any undercoat primer into the effect of the aesthetic.

While covering the front of the canvas, the rich hue was soothing and even had helped in the reminiscence of evening skies, naturally transporting me to a place of tranquility and reflection which fostered peaceful intentional strokes as I refined the paint coverage to smooth and blend as it dried.

There is something deeply meditative about painting, whether it is a vehicle of transportation or an expression of thought and emotion, when the pigments blend seamlessly, it creates natural variations in tone and texture that is best savoured in the moment, and something that shouldn't be rushed but rather an application that is deliberate.... purposeful.... meaningful.

In this stage, I did aim for an even coating but wanted an atmospheric backdrop, one that would resonate with the elements that I plan to explore further in this piece. As the blue dried, I reflected on the moodful landscape I wish to capture - one that oscillates between serenity and sensory.

It certainly helped with the vision of how subsequent layers would interact with this kind of foundational blue, how they would either contrast or harmonise with it, setting a stage for soulful yearning while sparking of dream-states. It is at this point where the piece reinforces its capability to meet practical purpose; allowing the owner of the piece to be interpersonal with it, and meeting various interactive multi-faceted needs.

It is a piece that speaks for itself, and where I, its artisan, effectively listens to that 'voice' (vibe) and nurtures it into being. As such, this step feels crucial, not just for the visual composition but for the conceptual framework of the functional artwork. Twilight blue symbolises transition, a perfect metaphor for the transformative process of the creation itself. I will be returning to this canvas soon, to build upon this initial layer, weaving in the new colours and the glitter coat that will evoke the intended narrative.

Upon clean up of this stage, as I cleaned up the sponge roller and tidied up the work space, I felt a sense of accomplishment that was deeper than anticipated, which indicates that this was a work that held more than just an 'eye candy appeal'. This was a piece that was already capturing a part of the soul and so having an more esoteric meaning as it evolves. Normally a connection is made later in the development process but it has begin in the early stages and so as I delve deeper into the realms of this piece, this may possibly be a point of compass for future projects.