Hold On (2011)
Growing up I often stayed at a friend’s home,
whose walls were adorned with Nolans Drysdales,
waves. The sea and water themes are prevalent in
Dobells, Percevals, Boyds and Williams. Their vast
my work. I am attracted to the beauty of water and
collection consisted of the early Australian painters
more specifically light on water. The sunlight in
of the time and a few Picassos. It was heaven, and
Australia is fierce, extreme in its strength; I delight
that purity of painting has remained a huge
in watching the play of colours as the sun bounces
influence on my work – preferring a painterly style
off objects. I am lucky enough to spend a month
as I do. They also had an extensive library, full of
every year in Fiji where I teach a workshop.
art books, which was wonderful to peruse. In the
Painting in Fiji reminds me how different climates
many years I have been exhibiting I have met many
and atmospheres alter colour and force you to
artists and have been privileged to be surrounded by
revisit your palette. Colour always has and always
people I admire and who inspire me.
will inspire me. I am a sponge, a bower bird,
I am the eldest child of a family of four
collecting physical objects, colours and shapes and
daughters, and used to spend a great deal of time
memories. I work alone, totally absorbed in the
with my father in his boat fishing and braving ocean
process, often painting for long periods of time.