I am a studious artist, happily working on developing my perceptions of life and exploring ways to express those through art. Geographically settled in the magnificent rural landscape of Tenterfield, close to the NSW/QLD border, I have a purpose built art studio, a supportive family, and no end of inspiration. My time is spent adventuring. For me, being an artist is all about the experience of cycling through challenge, exploration, refinement and expression.
I enjoy handling different drawing and painting mediums, and work with charcoal, pastel, watercolour, acrylic, printing inks and mixed media, exploring the communicative values of various techniques. I strive for balance within an art work, as well as holistically across my art practice. Painting, drawing and printmaking may be listed in the visual arts, but I am very conscious of the tactility and physicality of dry vs wet, large vs small, and the characterisation provided by different tools. I also have a strong interest in the varying contributions of consciousness and sub-consciousness within a work, and the open invitation for new discoveries.
The creation of each piece in a series is a truly joyful experience – full of the excitement of adventure and the satisfaction of accomplishment, but also the intense desire to create more, to reinforce and refine my new knowledge. When the series is complete, I am brimming with ideas for new challenges –perhaps integrating that knowledge with other areas of my practice, or extending on a particular idea. The urge to balance my recent activity with others in my practice is very strong however, so it is likely that I will plan a project with opposing processes to navigate my next new adventure.
The pleasure that comes from living with the finished works is almost a separate and new experience. I create enough works that I can share that experience, and hope that they bring pleasure to others. It is very special when a presentation of my vision resonates with the experience and perception of strangers.
I have a continued interest in taking workshops with other artists – to gain insight and appreciation into their processes and ideologies, and look for ways to strengthen my own. I am a student of life, not it’s teacher.