Painting Journey

Learning Through Paint

My Painting Journey began unexpectedly. What started as a university elective chosen to support theatre studies soon became a creative practice centred on curiosity, experimentation and discovery.

I had taken folk art classes in my twenties, where the focus was on following established patterns and recreating existing designs. Later I experimented with acrylic pouring and enjoyed the process, but I never seriously considered myself capable of creating original artwork.

When I enrolled in Painting as part of my Fine Arts studies at the University of Tasmania, my motivation was largely connected to theatre. I saw painting as a useful skill for props, set design and visual storytelling.

What I did not expect was that painting would become one of the most rewarding creative experiences of my life.

Becoming a Student Again

I approached my first painting class with a simple goal: learn as much as possible.

I wanted to absorb everything I could and treated each class as an opportunity to experiment, make mistakes and discover new ways of seeing.

One of the biggest surprises was realising that I could paint.

The second surprise was discovering how much I enjoyed it.

Today I paint every week. Sometimes that means working on a larger piece. Sometimes it means experimenting with colour, composition or technique. Each painting becomes part of an ongoing process of learning.

The more I learn, however, the more I realise there is still to discover.

That can be both unsettling and exciting.

Learning to See Differently

Painting has changed the way I look at the world.

I find myself noticing colour relationships, shadows, reflections and textures in everyday life. I look at a tree and wonder what brush marks might recreate its leaves. I notice how light changes throughout the day and how colour behaves in different environments.

Painting has encouraged me to slow down, observe more carefully and pay attention to details I might previously have overlooked.

It has become as much about learning to see as learning to paint.

The Aurora Project

The Aurora Project began as a simple idea.

I wanted a way to track my development as a painter over time.

Using a photograph I had taken of an aurora, I decided to revisit the same subject repeatedly, creating new interpretations as my skills and understanding evolved.

What started as a learning exercise has gradually become something much bigger.

Today I see The Aurora Project as a lifelong series that will continue to grow alongside my artistic practice. Each version captures not only a particular image, but also a moment in my creative development.

The project reminds me that growth is rarely about reaching a destination.

It is about continuing the journey.

Themes Emerging Through My Work

Although I am still early in my artistic journey, I can already see recurring themes beginning to emerge.

Ideas around self-acceptance, curiosity, mental health and personal growth frequently find their way into my work.

As someone who lives with anxiety, depression and PTSD, I believe creative practice has the ability to encourage reflection, foster understanding and create opportunities for meaningful conversations.

Paintings such as Daiquiri Duck explore ideas of embracing both the child and adult parts of ourselves. Other works reflect my fascination with learning, discovery and the possibilities that emerge when we allow ourselves to try something new.

These themes also connect strongly to my theatre practice.

While painting and performance are very different disciplines, both seek to explore aspects of the human experience and invite audiences to see the world from a different perspective.