On top of the world, oil on canvas, 2025
The title for this artwork ‘On top of the world’ is intended both literally and figuratively. The reference photo used was a selfie taken by my sister whilst she was on one of her ‘running holidays’ in the Alps. I attempted to capture that sense of achievement, pride and weariness she radiated at this leg in her journey. Running for weeks over mountains like this is an awe-inspiring accomplishment that should be immortalised in art.
*
Grey nomads, oil on canvas, 2025
Grey nomads encapsulates the journey of my parents in their retirement. This scene is set along the coast in Western Australia during their last year of travelling. My mother always eager to explore, dragging my father along with her. Him tolerating it more for my mother’s sake then anything else.
*
Nude figure, oil on canvas, 2025.
Nude figure was painted from a charcoal sketch drawn in a nude life drawing class. Using yellow, orange and red to paint this figure, gave it a cartoonish appearance that I actually quite enjoy. It is fun and playful. I used the blue to create shadow on the green background, to try and ground the figure.
*
Seventeen, oil on canvas, with acrylic base layer, 2025.
Seventeen is a paining of my seventeen year old son. I first painted a quick outline in acrylic whilst he posed for me. I tried not to overthink it too much, just looking to isolate those main features that make him who he is. The hand gesture is a common one he makes when he thinks I am being rediculous about something, half in humour, half in frustration. I suspect if I weren’t his mother he might be giving me the finger, but he is much too well behaved to do that. I changed aspects, such as the background and hair, in this painting multiple times before I was happy with it. In the end this is probably one of my favourite paintings. I feel as if I have captured his spirit and personality well, alongside that teenage attitude.
*
Cousins, oil on canvas with acrylic back layer, 2025
Cousins is a painting of three of my own children and two of their cousins climbing a tree at the park. It evokes in me a sense of play and memories of my own childhood spent doing the same thing with my cousins. To that end, I decided to keep the features on the children’s faces vague, it doesn’t matter who each individual child is. It is the ability to play and create memories together, without any equipment or devices. The joy that can be found in nature and our imaginations. We are all one of those children playing with their cousins in a tree.
*
Australian Army Cadet Corps, oil on canvas, 2025.
The Australian Army Cadet Corp has a special place in my heart and has played a major role in my life. My husband and I first met as young teens in cadets. It was a massive part of both of our teen lives. As adults and parents, cadets still plays a massive role in our lives. My husband is Commanding Cadet officer for our local unit, 13RCU, whilst I am a DAH (volunteer helper). All of our children either have, are, or will be a part of the Cadet program in their teen years. It is a place of commradrie, leadership, disapline, safety, and all kinds of life skills and supports. The Cadet in this artwork is my own son, however I have intentionally faced him away, without displaying his features, as he is there to represent all cadets.
