I am a visual artist working in watercolour, acrylic inks, collage, drawing and mixed media. I have a fascination with textures and colour and their relationships to each other and incorporate many of these elements in my work.
Leading up to 2011 I did some watercolour classes with a local artist and also worked in various forms of textile art but then ‘life got in the way’ and I stopped being creative. From 2011, when my time was a little freer, I decided to get back into watercolour painting. A friend mentioned that there were watercolour painting classes being run in Leongatha, by artist Florence Crighton, and maybe I could check them out. I did and I feel that I have now found my creative passion again!
It didn’t take me long to stop feeling nervous using watercolour. When I realised that not every sheet of paper had to be a “masterpiece” and the only rule to using watercolour paints is “there are no rules”, I relaxed and started to enjoy this beautiful medium. I love to paint in various styles and experiment a lot with texture and colour in my paintings.
When I begin to paint a subject, I’m not concerned with representing it realistically, but more with using colour, different techniques and materials to create something that represents the subject and provokes a feeling for the subject. I want the viewer to be able to “feel’ the rain or feathers or fur, etc, in the painting.
While working on a painting, the things that thrill me are mixing a few colours together and seeing how they react with, and to, each other. The way one colour can ‘push/pull’ another colour and the beautiful blending that happens to make a new colour, is amazing to me and I never tire of seeing it happen.
I haven’t had any formal art training but have attended a few art workshops and demonstrations from various artist. I like to study the techniques of other artists and then use them to interpret a subject in my own way!
I love the work of Klimt, Hundertwasser, Mondrian and Van Gogh and the contemporary art of Shirley Trevena, Ann Blockley, Jean Haines, Carol Carter and John Lovett and Yesim Meltem Gozukara. Also, the work of print makers can influence some of my painting techniques. There are so many great, experimental and exciting artists that have influenced my work in so many ways. How wonderful!!
I sold my first piece of artwork years ago when I entered the Mirboo North Art Show. It was such a thrill to think that someone who liked my work enough, would want to pay for it and hang it on their wall. I still feel that thrill as a compliment when I sell a painting, and feel that I’m on the right track.
Art shows/exhibitions I have entered are Mirboo North Art Show, Leongatha Painters Group Art Exhibition, The A4 Art Exhibition at Herring Island, Korumburra Rotary Art Show, Leongatha Rotary Art Show, Inverloch Art Show, Corinella Art Show, and the Tyers Art Festival. I had my first solo exhibition at the Red Tree Gallery, Jindivick-2016 and have 2 solos at Meeniyan Art Gallery and 1 at Leongatha Gallery. I am a member of, and regularly display my work at, Artspace Wonthaggi.
