Stamp of approval for Celia

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Stamp of approval for Celia

BOTANICAL artist Celia Rosser OAM has had her famous banksias immortalised in stamps with Australia Post.
The celebration of her work was released on Tuesday, February 20.
The Fish Creek resident’s work is renowned. She is the only artist to paint every species of banksia in botanic form.
Her work received critical acclaim and gave her the chance to exhibit in England, meet Queen Elizabeth, and receive an Order of Australia Medal and an Order of the British Empire.
“My first series of stamps was commissioned in partnership with Australia Post and Monash University, where I worked for many years,” Ms Rosser said.
“The latest series features four of my paintings on stamps as well as a set of postcards. The grossa, speciosa, cuneata and coccinea banksias are displayed on the stamps and the postcards display a photograph of the banksia alongside the painting.”
It took Mrs Rosser more than 25 years to compile her 18th century style florilegium and she said it is sometimes overwhelming when she considers her vast body of work.
“Now when I look at everything, I cannot quite believe I did all of it myself,” she said.
“I spent so much time taking field trips to collect the banksias and it was an enormous job. Each painting took so long.”
Ms Rosser first discovered her love for the flora when she had an accident with her best friend and their children in a car.
“My friend Brenda and I were driving around and we went into some quicksand. Between the two of us we had six children. While she went to get help, and the children and I kept ourselves busy picking flowers,” she said.
“That is when I came across my first ever banksia, the banksia serrata, which to this day is still my favourite species.”
Ms Rosser’s designs have featured on stamps a number of times, first in 1981 when she was commissioned to paint a series of fungi stamps.
In 1988, Ms Rosser painted a series of coconut images and later in 1990 a couple of golden wattle paintings were commissioned for Australia Day commemorative stamps.
In 1994, her series of Chistmas Island native flora was featured on stamps.
Australia Post philatelic manager Michael Zsolt said the designs would become a collectors’ item for those with a love for native Australian flora.
“We are excited to acknowledge banksias as an Australian botanical icon, striking in both the natural landscape and in native gardens,” he said.
Ms Rosser is proud to have some of her favourite work showcased across the country.
“You have to be particular and accurate in painting botanicals,” she said.
“I still surprise myself. When I was asked to exhibit in London in 1993, I was scared by how good the other artists were. But when I got there I realised my work could stand up next to theirs.
“It is nice to still feel that way years later.”

Work immortal: Fish Creek’s Celia Rosser was thrilled to have four of her banksia paintings turned into stamps by Australia Post last month.

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Posted by on Mar 6 2018. Filed under Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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