A gorgeous still life painting by Melanie Caple at Oakleigh Central. You'll find this mural is on a wall at the halfway point of a ramp up to the shopping centre from the carpark, near the fresh fruit and vegetable shop.

Melanie says of the piece,
"I was commissioned to create a painting that celebrated Mediterranean harvest favourites, and so a still life was the most appropriate - olive branches, citrus, and pomegranate. A plain tiger butterfly links Australia and the Mediterranean, as the species is found in both regions. I wanted it to be a celebration of culture, connection, and place.

This mural feels right at home. Painted over four big night sessions.

I love plain tiger butterflies, or Lesser-Wanderer Butterflies as they're known here. Similar to monarchs, it is thought that plain tigers were one of the first butterflies to be depicted in art, etched into the Roman frescoes on the walls of the Luxor Temple 3500 years ago.

Painting makes me happy."

Melanie's paintings always make me happy too.