Audrey

'Audrey' is a new adventure for me. I haven't produced portraits in a long while and was feeling inspired to revisit this subject matter. I have built up a background of contrasting warm and cool hues to create interest and contrast. 'Audrey' has ben added over the top and becomes intwined with the background through the transparent application of paint on her hands and shoulder. An outline of her hair and the flower she is reflecting on create balance to the work. The viewer is automatically drawn to her face because it is the least transparent feature in the painting and stands out from the background. 'Audrey' means strength and I have chosen this title for her because It took a great deal of creative strength to decide the painting was complete and hold back from adding anything else to it.

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From the day I sat in my Dad’s full roller tray at 6 months of age, my parents got the sense I was going to be artistically minded. I’ve always felt a strong need to express myself creatively and I don’t really remember a time where I didn’t spend hours on end drawing or making things. My need to be creative has been an attribute I have incorporated into my formal studies and career choice as a Secondary School Art Teacher. Teaching young people Art has given me the opportunity to experiment with techniques and materials along with them. It has also challenged me to learn and explore processes a little out of my own comfort zone. I have focused strongly on the therapeutic benefits of art in my teaching and this is something I have carried over when producing my own artworks. I want people to view my artworks and feel the same sense of joy and pleasure that I experience while creating them. My paintings in particular communicate the way I am feeling at the time in the use of colour, pattern, stencil work and movement. This is why I particularly enjoy an abstract approach with paint on large-scale canvasses. Exploring different ways of applying paint is also of strong interest to me. I have experimented with paddle brushes, catalyst wedges, fondant icing smoothers, rubber spatulas and anything that I can get my hands on. In addition to abstract painting, I have explored various subject matter including portraits, hands, animals and zentangle design. My inspiration stems from my creative need at the time. Abstract work allows me to be spontaneous whereas portraits allow me to focus on attention to fine detail and help me to channel my perfectionism. Zentangle design helps me to feel relaxed and focused at the same time, similarly to meditating. As well as winning many awards for my artworks at local art shows, I was featured on Channel 10's Healthy Homes Australia in 2019. I have also been published through Austin Macauley Publishers as an Author and Illustrator of a children’s picture book titled ‘With One Eye Open’. I look forward to pushing myself further in my creative journey in the future and hope to produce many more picture books.