Painting Portfolio

Learning Through Paint

What started as a university elective chosen to support my theatre studies soon became one of the most rewarding creative experiences of my life. I’d taken folk art classes in my twenties, where I followed established patterns, and later experimented with acrylic pouring. Although I enjoyed both, I never really considered myself capable of creating original artwork. When I enrolled in Painting at the University of Tasmania, I was thinking about how the skills might help with props, set design and visual storytelling. I didn’t expect to discover how much I enjoyed painting for its own sake.

One of the biggest surprises was realising that I could paint. The second was discovering how much I wanted to keep learning. Painting has changed the way I look at the world. I notice colours, shadows, reflections and textures differently. I find myself looking at a tree and wondering what brush marks might recreate its leaves, or how I could capture the changing light in a landscape. I’m still experimenting with techniques, composition and colour, and I don’t always know how a painting will turn out when I begin. Some ideas work, others don’t, but there’s always something to learn.

I’m also beginning to recognise themes emerging through my work. Curiosity, self-acceptance, mental health and personal growth appear in different ways, alongside my fascination with landscapes and the ordinary moments that make me stop and look twice. Projects such as The Aurora Project allow me to revisit familiar subjects and see how my skills develop over time, while paintings like Daiquiri Duck encourage me to explore more playful and unexpected ideas.

I don’t know exactly where painting will take me, and I’m comfortable with that. There’s still so much to discover, and that’s part of what makes it enjoyable.