Statement
I have always been fascinated by the inner lives of others and its external expression. I'm intrigued by how people choose to present themselves, what they disclose to friends and strangers, which secrets they choose to keep. It's only as I’ve gotten older that I have gained an understanding of other peoples trials and tribulations and the marks that leaves - the character that has been formed by life.Proximity and space is an overarching theme to my work. When I lived in the country it seemed the more space we had the closer we became. We depended upon and supported each other, however, living in the city the closer we are physically; on a train or a busy intersection, the further apart we appear to be emotionally, and the less we seem to care about the other people with whom we share such limited space with.
The subjects in my paintings share a space. I like my viewers to explore and describe this space themselves. I want them to question different elements as they view this space over time. I believe the life of a painting should evolve and reveal different layers of meaning throughout the changes and transitions that occur in the life of its owner.
I have always been an optimist. In my paintings, I add colour to my subjects’ faces and clothes to brighten up their lives. Birds often appear, representing freedom or a different path to follow. I spend most of my drawing time seated near Flinders Street Station, Melbourne at peak hour and the surrounding areas observing passers by. I create quick sketches of what I see and take them back to the studio to inspire my paintings. The fluid nature of the final compositions represent the rush of bodies, the sense of isolation and yet the exhilarating nature of an urban space.