Most of my paintings are nature based. Usually I love to walk about in grass barefoot, but not when it is this long! Have you ever noticed that you donβt see one blade of grass on its lonesome? it is always surrounded by a βcommunityβ of grass. Have you also noticed that the same type of grass dies together and thrives together?
I sustained a traumatic brain injury in 2015 and started painting as part of my rehabilitation; so I give 10% of all my sales to Brain Injury Australia to support their wonderful work.
Community
Artwork Details
- Medium
- Oil, Ready to hang
- Dimensions
- 24in (W) x 24in (H) x 1.5in (D)
Return it for free within 7 days
Artwork Description
Artist Bio
I paint Australian Landscapes sometimes with a twist of abstract! I love to paint funky trees because that's how I see them. I never tire of watching their bark change throughout the seasons, the colours change with different light and the quirky shapes of their limbs. I try to capture their uniqueness in a fun-loving and often whimsical way. I am lucky to paint against a backdrop of trees with birds and kangaroos frequently dropping in... as well as the occasional brown snake!
I started to paint after suffering a Traumatic Brain Injury at 52 years of age. Painting initially helped to "unlock" my inner-self, thoughts and feelings that I found hard to express. Through my continued recovery, painting has become a love and passion, I call it βhealing artβ. For me, trees are very symbolic. Even when they lose their bark or leaves and look very different to what they were before, they are still a tree, the same tree! That's what it felt like for me after my injury, I felt like a totally different person, I had to re-learn many basic things in life, but I was still the same person deep inside. I still have to remember to "ground" myself at times - and it's the tree that I look to help me.
Sometimes I cover the canvas in whatever pattern and colours βspeakβ to me, or I clean my paint brushes or palette knives on a spare canvas. This in itself can be an outlet to experiment with colour, shapes or texture. But I also find that it is often an outward expression of the emotions I often bottle up inside. I leave these canvasses to dry and when I come back to them, and paint over them I find beautiful texture and shapes which guide the composition and colour of my next painting. I still have to remember to "ground" myself at times - and itβs the trees that I look to help me. Sometimes I paint the trees in, other times I scrape back to create the tree - revealing blends of wonderful colours. This way I find my process is quite organic and intuitive to how the painting ends up.
In an earlier life I taught Biology to secondary school students and my passion for the environment, wildlife and ecosystems remains strong in my being. My paintings tell a story of places I have been to; of respecting and caring for our natural environment.
My hope is that my art helps others in their healing journey and provides opportunities for connection with others and nature. I hope they encourage good conversations, opportunities for reflection and a reminder to practice mindfulness.
Each painting comes with its unique "story" and a certificate of authentication.