Reflections of the Granite Belt I

Reflections of the Granite Belt I

By artist: Kelly Southee

Soft pastel. 45 x 54 x 2 cm

On the Granite Belt, the light is clear and unforgiving, and I wanted the painting to carry that feeling. An open cobalt sky floods through the bare, dark-limbed trees, while the bank glows in oranges and acid yellows, with flashes of red running through the grass. Violet shadow pools along the water's edge, giving the warm bank something cool to push against. In the dam, that brightness breaks into soft turquoise and chalky white, and shade turns to shimmer. I used quick, layered pastel marks to catch the feeling of a moment of light, rather than a fixed view.

About the artist.

Kelly Southee is a New Zealand–born, Australia-based artist exploring the emotional resonance of place. Her connection to two homelands shapes her fascination with how landscape holds memory, identity, and feeling. Her work draws on lived experience, absorbing inspiration from both countries.

Collection or delivery.

This item is part of the Plant Empire Garden Art Exhibition, on display at Plant Empire from 17 October - 22 November 2026. Exhibition items are available for sale in person or online. In the unlikely event that a customer purchases the item in-store at the same time as it is sold online, we will refund the online purchase - thank you in advance for your understanding if this situation does occur. Exhibition pieces will be available for collection in-store or delivered from 23 November: to collect your item in person, please select the 'in-store pickup' option at checkout; or to have it delivered, please select either the Australia Post or courier option (Brisbane only) at checkout and your delivery fee will be calculated automatically.