Jon Dorne’s Boab Tree

Artist Jon Dorne, with Boab Tree (2026).

You may have seen Jon Dorne’s Boab Tree in the JOY exhibition at Luminance Gallery for Christmas ‘25. It was an exuberant, joyous, mosaic-like artwork that a couple visiting from Sydney bought and took home with them.

Barbara T came into the gallery during that time. The Lake Cathie resident saw the Boab Tree, loved it, but wasn’t ready to buy. Barb came back a month or so later, asked if it was still available, and when she heard it had sold, asked if Jon could paint another.

So he did.

It’s a privilege to have looked over Jon Dorne’s shoulder as he painted this boab. The work-in-progress photos give a wonderful sense of what’s involved: patience, confidence and skill being core requirements. But it’s the artist’s magic that brings it all together. And if you happen to walk past this boab at midnight or thereabouts, you’ll see a yellow moon to the left, waxing and waning with the light.

Jon Dorne, Boab Tree (2026), acrylic on canvas, 91cm x 91cm.