Casterton, SW Victoria
I love colour, vintage interiors, beautiful flowers and still life painting, although the occasional landscape sneaks in too!
Artworks: 8
I started painting over 20 years ago, but started taking it very seriously just a few years back. I didn’t start life as one of those people who drew constantly, (drawing is not a strength) or even had an idea of what an artist does, but I’ve always loved colour and have always been interested in interiors and flowers. Luckily they go together in still life paintings, which are my go to subject. Although, as I said, the occasional landscape sneaks in and I will venture into plein aire painting in the near future. I’ve purchased the all important pochade box and just need to give it a road test!
My family were not into art and it didn’t feature in my life, until I moved to a tourist town in Central Victoria, Australia, called Daylesford. A beautiful area, with lots of creative people and I did my first art classes there, starting in 2004. I loved it from the beginning and was fortunate to have a great teacher. My first paintings still hang in my home and my preference for strong colours are very evident. I went on to do a Fine Arts Degree, between 2007 and 2011 and ventured into ceramics and print making as well.
As a child, I loved to sew and created wonderful gowns for a teen doll. She was just a model for my creations and I had a loving grandfather who had a wonderful flower garden and he enjoyed allowing me to pick posies of flowers for my mother. Great big, dinner plate sized dahlias, camellias, asparagus fern, old fashioned flowers and I still love picking those posies, but now from my own garden.
I realized, just this week, that the interior decorating book of my mother’s, which I have had in my collection since her passing over 20 years ago, was a favourite book to look at, even as a child. It’s an American book, full of mid century design ideas and I believe it started my interest in interiors. I live in a colourful, vintage style home, which is a canvas for my ideas and evolves as time goes on, as does my half acre garden.
I’m blessed to have a studio situated in that garden and on a sunny day, the doors are opened wide, to allow me to see into the garden, as I work. It’s a wonderful place to be.
I am always open to learning more and make sure to participate in workshops and classes on a regular basis and I’m looking forward to participating in a week long retreat, exploring the possibilities with soft pastels. It’s an ever evolving world and I love it.
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