I don’t remember a specific time when I first realized that art was for me because I have always been interested in it.

I enjoy reading about Art History and I have developed an appreciation for modern art with a specific focus on pop art. An Australian artist, David Bromley, inspires me, in particular his portraits of children, birds, and butterflies.

I also look to Spanish artists for inspiration, such as Goya, who captures the real emotions and characteristics in portraits and Sorolla for bright colours and bold brush strokes.

Oils and acrylics are my two favourite mediums, with oils in summer and acrylics in winter. It’s hard to pinpoint my style, but I like to incorporate a lot of bright colours and a touch of impressionists.

Initially, when I began painting, it was classic landscapes but that lasted only a short time. Gradually, my style has shifted towards figurative painting. Through my artistic journey, I have had many mentors, from art teachers to friends who have taught me so much.

I do occasionally exhibit. The most recent was ‘Art in the Street’ in Warragul, hosted by the Baw Baw Shire in 2023. I also exhibited at local art group exhibitions. In 2023 I exhibited at the Noble Park Community Centre Art Show and out of 590 paintings I received the second prize, “Noble Park Public Trust Runner Up Open Category” for my portrait of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. This gave me a great sense of accomplishment.

The process I use to complete a figurative painting involves a number of steps. I take several pictures with various angles to create the best composition. Although this is not always the case, I keep trying and hope that another new style will emerge with more ideas and perhaps use another medium, like watercolours!

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