For as long as I can remember I have always loved to draw and paint.  For every school project from primary school through secondary, I spent more time on the designs than I did on content.  It wasn’t until year 9 at high school that Ms O’Leary introduced us to a whole new world. She was so talented herself and had a way in which she was able to draw out the best in everyone. I lived for her art classes, where I spent many a recess with other students working on our projects.  In year 9 it was a requirement to buy a 72 box of Derwent pencils, and this was the beginning of my art journey. 

At home in my bedroom, I set up my easel, which was the kitchen stool and had my oil paints and canvas ready for any moment of inspiration. Each night in year 11 I would slumber off to sleep to the smell of turpentine and linseed oil, to the distress of my mum.   The kitchen table and bench would have my pencils strewn all over whilst I created my next masterpiece.

When I look back I am grateful for my sport and my art as I don’t know how I would have gotten through what was such a challenging time.  It was a family decision that I would change schools and live with our dear family friends “The O’Brien’s”, and complete year 12 on the Mornington Peninsula.

The art class at the school I went to was so different and most of the time it felt like my art teacher didn’t like me.  She was only focused on the theory of art and marked me down heavily.  Thankfully I was able to find solace in the Impressionist era where I studied Vincent Van Gogh. In my year 12 exam, I wrote his life story in my words, I doubt I answered the question at all!  My practical assignment, each drawing took about 3 days, and my painting of Mount Martha beach a 1.5M x 2M oil on canvas is today probably sitting at the bottom of the Violet Town Tip!

At the end of year 12, 1987 we had to decide on a career path. In my heart, I wanted to study fine art.  My art teacher strongly recommended against it, that artists don’t make money and you needed to have an edge. She said my work was not of that calibre.  I got an A- for art in year 12 and went off to become a Primary School Teacher where I taught for 1 week!  A- for me was an epic fail. My teacher; well; she was right.  It was 30 years before I would paint again.

In 2017 I had a really bad day, a ‘dark knight’ of the soul kind of day.  I did not know what I wanted to do, I couldn’t find passion in anything I did.  I had become a robot.   Work, eat, sleep & work. I had a few setbacks throughout the years and my ideal world of the house, 3 kids, perfect husband golden retriever had not happened. The world and my world closed in around me I had suffocated in my own expectations of what my life was supposed to be.   

A chance meeting during my crappy morning and my nephew being born that afternoon gave me a reason to keep going.  That day I got myself a life coach.

It was our first coaching call when my world became alive again.  She gave me a simple exercise and BOOM, column A1 there it was. Write an inspirational children’s book (which will be completed in early 2022). I didn’t know immediately at that time what was about to unfold. It was in the coming weeks and months in my pursuit of an illustrator, that a chance decision to visit the Kinglake Ranges Art show where I met my art teacher and mentor Barbara Hauser.  After scrutinising the art on exhibit, I had chosen who was going to be my illustrator.  It was Barbara whose work almost spoke to me on that day.

At the end of 2017 I began art lessons with Barbara in her studio on a weekly basis I started painting again.  It was 30 years since I had touched a paintbrush and it was like a ‘knowing’ washed over me.  This is what I love, this is my passion and life will never be the same again.  When I’m painting I am home and I am most content.

18 months into my lessons Barbara went overseas to exhibit her own work and I was on my own.  At first, I wasn’t sure I could paint by myself.  Each day I started painting I had her words in my head on what to do next and like an instinct my paintings became alive.  During this time I managed to sell some of my works and this created a drive in me to keep going.  I was so proud of myself. 

One night I was watching a documentary on Misty Copeland, the principal ballerina of American Ballet School.  My beautiful friend Monique who was always there for me and incredible support was doing Barre class together. We spoke often of Misty.  Misty’s story of being told she wasn’t good enough was an inspiration to me.  I became obsessed with painting her.  The painting on my home page is the painting to date that I am most proud of “Grande Jeté”.  This painting is now hanging in a private collection in NSW.  The owner of this painting is another inspirational woman, I met on my journey, and we keep in touch to this day.

It is now 2020, with courage and conviction I have launched my website, and for the first time in my life, I am displaying my artwork for the world to see.  Covid-19, thank you for the time and clarity that has enabled me to take this next step.