Reminiscence

A playful painting of vibrant energy of contrasting tones; organic warm coloured pebbled shapes move through a darkly textured cool coloured space.

The colours and shapes are reminiscent, for me, of a childhood experience of a very magical box that my godfather used to have on his art deco table in his living room. When I visited as a young child, I was always excited to run into the beautifully styled living room and see what goodies (sweets) were in this very magical box. The colours and shapes of this painting somehow take me back to that time of innocence and the ability at that age to find fun, excitement and joy in such little things as a box with sweets inside.

In this painting, I hope I have captured a hint of that childlike enjoyment and energy.

This painting would suit a small wall or cosy nook to highlight and bring interest and energy to the space. A dark coloured wall would really highlight this painting but a white wall would work well too.

It was a challenge to bring this painting to completion and many hours of work have resulted in heavy texture and multi layers revealing hints of underpainting.

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As soon as I could hold a pencil I was drawing, and throughout both primary and high school I excelled in Art so it was an obvious choice once leaving school to go to Art School. I spent the following six years full time studying Visual Arts, first at TAFE (including the National Art School) and then at COFA (College of Fine Arts), UNSW. After graduating from COFA in the mid-1980s, I moved to The Blue Mountains with my artist partner and we opened the Water and Earth Gallery in the Renaissance Centre in Katoomba, where we sold our own work and a few select local artists.

Over the following decades, I followed various creative vocations including designing and illustrating five children’s educational activity books, working as a full-time painter, teaching school, teaching art, performing and teaching Oriental Dance for ten years, and in more recent years, going back to study a Masters of Psychotherapy.

After a fifteen year break from full-time painting, I have come full circle, back to my first talent, and am painting again with a completely renewed passion and inspiration.

In the past, I was represented by Rushcutters Bay Gallery for some years, and my large, expressive, abstract paintings were sold to offices, hotels, and clubs across Australia as well as purchased by private collectors. My largest painting hangs in the Crown Solicitor’s Office in Sydney.

My formal qualifications include: Art Certificate, Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts), Grad. Dip. Ed, Masters of Counselling and Applied Psychotherapy.