Odette Farrell, Ginkgo (2019)

Oil on canvas, 122 x 152 cm

The Ginkgo Biloba tree is considered a living fossil. I have found an incredible source of inspiration from this amazing creature. There was a time, 270 million years ago, during the Permian period when Ginkgos were widespread throughout the world. Its resistance makes some ginkgos to be more than 2,500 years old and in Hiroshima Ginkgos, though charred, were some of the few living beings that survived the blast and were soon healthy again. Today Ginkgo is listed as an endangered species. Its distinctive duck’s foot leaves inspirited this and many other paintings.