Artist Statement

Although I never had formal art lessons (beyond the usual school classes), creativity was always part of my childhood. My mother often did arts and crafts with us, and that planted the seed for making things with my hands. I signed up for the Defence Art Program purely for fun, without expecting much. To my surprise, I’ve gained not only knowledge and skill but also inspiration. Having my paintings displayed at work sparked conversations with colleagues and opened unexpected connections through art. My day-to-day life has become more colourful. When you look at the world through an artistic lens, it’s hard not to appreciate its beauty. I’ve enjoyed trying to capture both life and feeling in brushstrokes. My First two pieces are Watercolour the latter two are Acrylic. I have never painted with acrylic before (besides a couple of paint and sips and a few 3D prints), but the lessons in watercolour transferred over quite nicely when I explored it for the two pieces for the exhibition. Boots Watercolour This still life was created during class and is the first piece I felt truly proud of. Below the Surface Watercolour I wanted to explore watercolour’s unique transparency to depict the movement of water. The whale shark, a giant local to WA with its beautiful speckled markings, seemed like the perfect challenge. From the Ashes Acrylic with recycled Jarrah frame I imagined a poppy standing strong in the middle of a battlefield. To me, remembrance is not only about honouring loss, but also about resilience and hope. The frame was intentionally handmade from recycled Jarrah, roughened to feel like something found in the trenches. Let the Wind Carry Me Acrylic with recycled Jarrah frame While working on From the Ashes, I remembered a conversation with a Ukrainian refugee I met while travelling. He told me that just a few kilometres from the front line, people still go about their daily lives. I wanted to capture the resilience of that spirit—how hopes, dreams, and simple joys endure even in the shadow of war. Like the poppy piece, this one didn’t feel right in a neat frame. I built the frame to feel like a broken window, a reminder that art is a glimpse into another world.