Artist statement

Relocating from Australia to San Jose, California has had a profound impact on my life. It has challenged me in so many ways, particularly in regards to my identity. A former florist and marketing manager, living in a community so heavily driven by the tech industry, who had a sinking feeling she’d never fit in. Little did I know that it would end up being an incubator for my artistic dreams.

I always enjoyed painting when younger, however it’s only recently that I’ve come to truly appreciate how powerful it is in paving the way for a deeper connection with one’s self. It provides an opportunity to reflect, process and express feelings and emotions.

My acrylic paintings have multiple layers. This process frees me from fixed expectations and allows me to discover and respond to an artwork in the moment. I let my artwork dictate my next move and respond accordingly. I do this through internal questioning and by being guided by my intuition and feelings at the time. The outcomes of this may mean I, for example, crave a particular colour combination or feel as though I can make a bold move, such as scrapping paint across an artwork in one fell swoop.

My watercolour and gouache drawings, on the other hand, are more deliberate and considered in nature. Whilst still being guided by my intuition, I only make marks that I truly desire. This has enabled me to quickly develop a visual language.

Each artwork teaches me, and ideally my audience, something new. The abstract nature of my artwork leaves each piece open to a viewer’s unique interpretation that’s informed by their emotions, feelings and experiences.