The Albury artist finished the installation at 6pm the night before the Melbourne CBD gallery had to cancel her opening and then close within a week due to COVID-19 restrictions.

"It was a surreal time," Percy said.

"We realised the gravity of the situation when no one was out on the streets.

"I was meant to be in the gallery painting during the exhibition but I cancelled my accommodation for two weeks and went home.

"We've just been in a holding pattern since then."

IN OTHER NEWS:

Percy's exhibition Quietude of the Land, the Figure and the Flower finally opened at the fortyfivedownstairs gallery on Tuesday.

Having sold five artworks from the exhibition online, Percy produced four others.

Inspired by nature and the high country in particular, Percy said she wasn't able to paint on location last year.

"I was locked out of the high country for a while and it's my muse," Percy said.

"When you're out in the landscape painting, the dimensions and colour are significantly different than working from a photo. But in a way it's helped me to look more deeply to see what's in the landscape and find new colours."

Percy said she had focused on flora in the high country recently.

"I've been able to duck up to get photographs again and gather inspiration, which has given me my mountain fix."

Percy's exhibition runs until January 30.