I come from a family background of highly successful artists so creating art is a big part of who I am as a person. I see things through a mindset of how I can use a scene, an image or even a photo of microscopic material and transform that into a beautiful artwork. Art became a natural pursuit from childhood. I undertook formal training in oils under Pino Calati. Working with oils allows far more flexibility than working in acrylics and is my preferred medium to create my art.
I studied the old masters and adopted their methods of using a mixture of mediums and working that into my oils as I paint. This gives the finished painting a translucency that can't be achieved using Oil paint alone. Oil paintings take longer to dry than the modern use of Acrylics but history has proven that oil paintings have a long life. They become heirlooms to pass on to the next generation.
My artwork is varied as I like to challenge myself. My work comprises abstract and surreal pieces. I have more contemporary pieces of beach scenes and some figure work as well. I love color and I am constantly pursuing paintings that capture the beauty of colours juxtaposed with their nemesis. But the composition of a detailed piece is what inspires me to create a work of art so, for me, it is critical to find the right subject.
I am always on the lookout for inspiration for a painting and have found a muse in my granddaughter, Lara Shae who has featured in a few of my paintings to her delight.
The process of creating and building up a painting is a wonderful experience that transforms my day and lifts my spirit. My studio is wall to wall windows, so it is usually drenched in sun. I look out onto the palm trees, listen to the songs of finches and other native birds that fill our back yard and think how blessed I am to be able to create and express myself surrounded in such a beautiful environment.
