The Dunedin artist’s latest exhibition embodies these two loves.
The exhibition "Rod Eales: Art of the Flower" is now on display at the Eastern Southland Gallery.
Gallery programmes officer Marcella Geddes said the gallery enjoyed having Eales display her work.
"Some years ago the gallery hosted an exhibition of Rod Eales paintings celebrating the iconic Crown Lynn swan vase," Mrs Geddes said.
"This collection of circular paintings focuses on another of her great loves, flowers."
The series of 21 paintings celebrated the flower in all stages of its life, from bud to full bloom and the process of decline and decay, she said.
Eales had always collected, dissected and drawn flowers, either from books, her own garden, friend’s gardens or botanical gardens.
She researched during summer, planting, photographing, drying and drawing.
During this time she would photograph flowers at various stages.
Her paintings are built up in multiple layers.
The exhibition opened on January 27 and can be viewed until March 24.
