I love working with all kinds of mediums when it comes to art. I started off being a glass painter and having to buy a mask for the toxic fumes the leading put off. It was a fun and very addictive art form. Then, I did glass painting again; but used different kinds of paint... it involved brushes and a very steady hand.
This lead me to painting on canvas. But I didn't pick it up straight away; instead I took an 8-hour bus trip out to Roma in Central Queensland and was taught to paint by a wonderful woman... my then boyfriend's mother, Gail Humphreys. She was a great artist when I knew her; and taught me the basics. Dan was so proud of my first painting and I still have it around here somewhere (I'll never part with it or the other three I did that week). She was so proud of how I picked it up so quickly.
Not long after I returned from Roma, Dan suggested I try to get some work in an art gallery. He looked around for me and said that the Logan Art Gallery was looking for volunteers... I didn't know at the time that there was an art gallery here in Logan; so I drove there and met the curator at the time (Julian Bowran). He welcomed me with open arms and I was on the roster immediately; and it was even better that I had a car!
Years passed and I learnt more about art. There were installation days I was allowed to walk around and watch them hang the paintings. Sometimes, I'd even pick out a detail in something that wasn't installed right and Julian was impressed and relieved somebody had picked the mistake (it would have been embarrassing on Opening Night if the smallest thing was wrong).
My art got better and I painted more and more when I left home on my own. It was then, in my 30's I began working with collage and mixed media. I enjoyed the texture of it and how it conveyed more than just plain old paint. I tried out the style of artworks where you find stuff on the side of the road, but because of the lack of space, I couldn't do it. So, collage with little things was the best thing for me. And those things aren't hard to find in charity stores or in Council Pick-up days.
In the last month, I've painted a Traffic Signaling Box near my house. Mum helped me and we had a ball! It's so much fun when you take part in a community project; and it helps make your area look better. And I've had such great feedback about that box since it was finished; so much so, I'm determined to do another one.
Art is something I've always loved; and will probably will always do in my life - as well as writing and love books - and so since I'm in a house full of arty things, I'm sure I'll be recognised for that one day as well in some small way; even if it's just my family who loves it and nobody else.
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