Painting the Australian Capital Territory: Capturing Quiet Detail and Place
This piece became the final state in my This is Australia series, a collection that began as a personal creative break between commissions and gradually grew into a visual exploration of each state and territory.
Unlike Queensland and Western Australia, where I had lived and built my own memories, the ACT is a place I had never visited. My understanding of Canberra was vague at best. Parliament House. Politicians. And not much else.
At least, that was where it began.
Discovering Canberra from afar
Creating this piece meant learning to see Canberra differently.
The more I looked, the more I realised how intentionally designed the city is. The ring road systems. The way Lake Burley Griffin sits directly in front of Parliament House. The balance between structure and open space. It felt planned, but not sterile. There was still wildlife, still native flora, still unmistakable Australian character woven throughout it.
And then there was the discovery that brought everything together.
The giant thorny devil sculpture perched on top of the nest tucked away in the National Arboretum.
Finding that felt like uncovering a hidden piece of personality. It allowed me to continue the thread that had run through the entire series, including something playful, unexpected, and distinctly Australian. It reminded me that even in our most formal places, there is still humour and individuality.
Bringing the ACT into the artwork
Parliament House naturally became a central element in this composition. Its shape is instantly recognisable, and it represents the ACT in a way nothing else quite can. I positioned it so it anchored the piece, with Lake Burley Griffin stretching out in front and the surrounding landscape softening its form.
Around it, I layered native florals, kangaroos, and sculptural elements, allowing the composition to reflect both the structure of the city and the natural environment that exists alongside it.
This piece felt less about personal nostalgia and more about interpretation. It was about understanding the ACT through its symbols, its design, and its quiet presence within the national identity.
Unexpectedly, it became one of my favourite pieces in the series.
Completing the series
By the time I finished the ACT, the full This is Australia collection had taken shape.
What began as a single artwork for my own wall had grown into a series that captured Australia through memory, storytelling, observation, and imagination. Each state and territory brought its own personality, and together they formed something much bigger than I originally planned.
I’d genuinely love to know which state or territory resonates most with you. Is it the place you live, somewhere you’ve travelled, or simply the one that feels most familiar?
You can follow the ongoing This is Australia series and see the remaining states over on Instagram at @laura.hamzic.art.
What happens next
I’ll be releasing This Is Australia: ACT, along with the other states in the collection, as fine art prints. If you’d like to be the first to know when prints and future releases become available, you can join my email list below and follow along as the collection continues to grow.
I may have finished painting each state, but I already have plans for where this Australiana series will go next.
If you’ve followed along through the blog or my 30-day series on Instagram, I just want to say thank you. It’s meant so much to share this journey, and I hope these paintings have helped you rediscover a little more of our beautiful country, and perhaps even reconnect with your own memories and favourite places.