Beginnings
I have been painting for about 15 years. I only ever paint Aboriginal Art. I did not know I could paint, but a friend talked me into doing an Aboriginal Arts Course and I just started painting. At the end of the course an art exhibition was held and I sold all of my paintings. Since this time I have sold many paintings and completed art works for the Education Department and local Catholic School.
Inspiration
My Inspiration is all around the need to share my culture and show others the beauty in the environment. I love the ocean and believe it is a part of me and my spirit, that’s why many of my paintings are of the ocean, the beauty and harmony that exists beneath the surface. I love water and all the creatures which make their homes in and around it. Every living thing needs water to survive, some more than others. These are the animals I love to paint; platypus, tortoise, frogs and all the rest. I believe it is my responsibility to share and explain my culture and my art provides the medium for this.
Life
I work in a school as an Aboriginal Education Officer and I am a qualified primary school teacher. Next to Aboriginal Art, Aboriginal Education is my passion. I have a very supportive family and live with my mum, two sons and my granddaughter. I like to spend time with my pets and painting.
Art
I have sold many different paintings to lots of different people, some just like the paintings, others the stories that go with them. With every painting is a tiny piece of your self that always goes with the painting. This is why I like my paintings to go to good homes where people can see, if only a glimpse, of the culture that inspires and transcends every painting.
Numbers
I would have painted over two hundred paintings in various shapes and sizes. One customer had a door painted, so they would have the biggest painting.
Style
The art would be classed as contemporary even though many works have no other colours than the main ochre colours red, black, white and yellow. Lots of customers like a colour or two incorporated to match décor. I advise against this as colour from the natural environment never gets out of date or becomes unfashionable.