Budgie Takes a Bath

Little Budgie has a bath at the tea party.

As a child I always kept birds. They have more personality and spirit than most pets. You might never know a bird is sick until they just fall of their perch one day. In this little painting I continue on with the themes that fascinate me, the intersection of nature and the domestic environment and our personal relationships with the past, our loved ones and our keepsakes. Budgies are a a beloved pet in many homes in Australia. In arid regions the presence of large flocks is a vital clue to the presence of water. In central desert regions they can often be found in plague proportions during times of abundance, as such they are often seen as a symbol of hope, connection and shared knowledge. My little Budgies are depicted inside the home, often perched on porcelain tea cup. The tea cup is itself a multilayered symbol of polite society, femininity and colonialism.

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My studio is in the middle of my home, which I share with my 2 small children, a fat tabby cat with orange eyes and a Hungarian. We live by the forest, surrounded by fields, in a small farmer's cottage built around 1880. The forest is full of creatures and birds. The house is full of things, dust, art and sometimes creatures as well. A cuckoo clock strategically placed in the kitchen, marks the passing of time, all Hungarian homes have one I'm told. Our little cottage and the surrounding forest, is where I draw from for inspiration when I paint. Every day there is something to discover. I haven't always painted animals but recently I have found great peace studying them. My daughter loves to see them come to life and change each day. For me this is the thing that is so wonderful about painting, it's slowness. My paintings evolve over many hours, sometimes months, building layer upon layer.

I studied fine art at Curtin University in Western Australia where I grew up. I worked in various roles in the art industry and after graduating I opened a successful gallery and artist studios.