INSIGHTto this day I still wonder what they
would think, say or do in a particular
situation. The effect was so profound
that it inspired me to look at teaching
art as a profession.
The next chapter began with
University; completing a fine arts
degree with a view to going onto
teaching. I wanted to inspire the next
generation of artists the way I had
been inspired. Throughout high school
I had developed a love of ceramic
art. I especially enjoyed painting
patterns and designs on functional
pots. I was accepted into a Fine Arts
degree, majoring in Ceramics, but also
focusing on drawing and painting.
However, during University I lost
my direction and felt I couldn’t be
myself. My work suffered, I felt
stifled and lost, I became disillusioned
and wondered if I had chosen the
wrong course. Worst of all, I felt
I was being pushed into creating
work I disliked just to pass. I had
no passion or love for my work and
it showed. I persevered and I must
credit my parents for persuading me
to see it through, because I was ready
to give up. My dream of teaching
soon became a distant memory, as
the thought of any more study was
too much. I needed time to regroup
and find my style again, and like asmany others have experienced, life
happened, and I married my best
friend and the man who has been one
of my biggest supporters. Together we
have had two beautiful children and
worked hard to get ahead in life. This
meant that I did not create any art for
many years, and the worst part of all
was I did not feel worthy of creating,
and felt my spark had gone.
As my children grew, I felt the
creative urges stir once more. I needed
to find that piece of myself again. Art
had been such a big part of my life for
so long prior to having children, but I
was struggling to find a medium that
suited my current situation. Ceramic
studios are expensive to set up, and
while I love the tactile feel of clay
and the texture and surfaces you can
create, it is messy. Ceramics didn’t fit
into my lifestyle anymore, and being
able to work for one hour or even
half an hour just doesn’t happen in
ceramics, as you need to dedicate large
blocks of time, which is not possible
for a busy mum. I needed to find
another medium into which I could
channel my creativity.
I had always loved drawing, and
my studies had always included life
drawing, so I began attending life
drawing classes again. I was drawing
graphite animal portraits, but couldimmediately see that my technique had
a long way to go. I started practicing
in earnest, and did a few portraits
for people. I was asked about doing
a colour portrait, and that is when I
began to explore working in colour
pencils, which was something I
had not done since high school. It
immediately grabbed my interest, but
my intial drawings still were not where
I wanted to be, and I knew I needed to
gain more knowledge of the medium.
I began researching how to improve
my technique. I learnt so much, and
there has been a huge growth in the
drawings I am now doing. I just
love the versatility, convenience and
portability of pencils, and they are a
far more diverse medium than many
artists think, with so much scope for
layering and blending of colours. I have
just won a best emerging artist award
at the CardiniaArt Show in the Flora
& Fauna category for my piece called
‘Laid Back’, a beautiful ginger cat. It
has given me a new-found confidence
in my work, as being acknowledged by
your peers is something truly special,
and putting your work out to the public
and having people come to you and tell
you how it resonates with them makes
the journey worthwhile.
I have found what I was meant
to do, and it makes my soul smile.Laid Back Horse Study