About My Artistic Journey
How It Started
I began my art journey to encourage my son, who loved drawing in Grade 1 (he’s an adult now). I had no drawing skills myself, but I wanted to connect with him through play and learning. So I googled “how to draw faces,” and we followed a YouTube tutorial together. To my surprise, something clicked—and I became deeply drawn to learning more. I spent the next few years immersed in graphite pencil portrait drawing, teaching myself through online resources.
Finding Colour and Purpose
In 2014, I turned to painting after chronic health conditions made it impossible to continue working. Art gave me a new sense of purpose. It helped me feel productive and connected again. Painting quickly became my preferred medium. It’s more playful than pencil work, allowing me to experiment with brushes and techniques, and to change things easily as the painting evolves.
Why I Paint
I love working with oil paints—their smooth, buttery texture allows for techniques that other mediums can’t match. I’m a realism artist: I paint what I see. I get so immersed in the fine details that it feels like entering another world. When I step back and look at the whole painting, I often surprise myself. Watching a painting come to life on the canvas is one of my greatest joys.
Subject Matter and Connection
As a former make-up artist, I’ve always been drawn to faces. That’s why I started with portraits. Over time, I began painting animals too—their faces are just as expressive, showing emotions, but offer more freedom. I then progressed into painting landscapes, and I love how they transport me into the scene as I work. I still paint people from time to time, but it’s a challenge—there’s no room for error, and the slightest change can alter the likeness.
Art and Community
Art has helped me manage anxiety and reconnect with others. My involvement with Access Arts has been especially meaningful, and I’ve also exhibited with organisations like RFQ’s Recovered Futures and other local Brisbane and Ipswich exhibitions. These experiences have given me a supportive space to grow, share, and connect with people through creativity. Even when a painting doesn’t sell, hearing people’s comments and seeing their reactions is deeply rewarding.
The Journey Continues
Being an artist is a lifelong learning process. Every painting teaches me something new—about art, and about myself. I follow my curiosity and paint whatever draws me in: faces, animals, flowers, landscapes, or quiet moments from everyday life. Each piece is a step in my journey, and I look forward to seeing where it leads next.
