The original image for this painting came from the desire for a portrait of two siblings running and playing, as children do, on a beach at sunset. The freedom and joy of the image captured my imagination and I proceeded to replicate this feeling with a colourful array of expressionistic colours in a loose pop art form. I was particularly taken with the silhouetted forms against the sun setting over the rocks and sea and specifically avoided using black in following in the Impressionist's vein. The light highlighting the figure of the girl contrasted against the colourful watery background captures the softness of the water and this colourful light filled space. Use of contrasted colours such as green and orange helps to guide the eye.
Named after an Emily Dickinson poem "A prison gets to be a friend" where Dickinson reflects on her chosen reclusiveness and contrasts it against childhood freedom of "splashing in the pools" - for me it begs the question as to why as adults we cannot keep a playful childlike delight in our lives.
In this painting I've used high quality artist acrylics and mediums. As with most of my paintings I personally mount it on an "inbuilt" frame and then paint the painting as the frame and board as one unit. The painting is fitted with a wire and two D rings and is ready to hang.
so sweet - as plashing in the pools
Ready to hang
Artwork Details
Medium | Acrylic, Wood, Ready to hang |
Dimensions | 47.2in (W) x 35.4in (H) x 1.5in (D) |
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Artwork Description
Artist Bio
I’m an Australian visual artist and underwater photographer based in Fish Creek, Victoria. My work celebrates the strength, beauty, and freedom of women through vibrant paintings and illusionistic underwater portraits.
Born in 1972 in Wudinna, South Australia, I grew up in a time and place where women were expected to follow narrow roles. After a career detour and motherhood, I returned to my passion for art, earning a Bachelor of Visual Art (Painting) from the South Australian School of Art in 2012. My style developed through a love of action painting, stencil-making, and street art, and I was honoured with the UniSA Medal and selection for the prestigious Helpmann Academy Graduate Exhibition.
My practice bridges acrylic painting and underwater photography, capturing moments of suspended time, freedom, and transformation. I’ve exhibited widely in Australia and internationally, with work held in private collections across the world. Notable recognitions include Finalist positions in the RSASA Portrait Prize (2013), Bluethumb Art Award (2021), and The Percival Photographic Portrait Prize (2024), as well as a solo exhibition following a residency in Germany.
My mission is simple: to uplift and empower women through art. It’s the driving force behind everything I create.