How lucky I am to be living my dream of being a full-time Artist!
I had been the top Art student for the last two years of my high school career. The wisdom of the day though was that artists struggle to make a living – that Art was best left as a hobby. At the same time much of the Art that I saw around me relied on shock value or political statements to capture an audience, whereas I value art that brings joy.
I studied a Diploma in Architectural Technology which emphasized visual art and design principles. Architecture may have seemed like a logical career choice as I was also good at maths, but I soon felt it wasn’t the right choice for me. I then completed a BCom (Accounting) degree and spent many years in the super fund industry.
Eight years ago I had an epiphany, where I rediscovered my true identity and reason for being – that I am an Artist! This isn’t just the pursuit of a new hobby or activity, it is who I am.
From that point of realization, I sought out a mentor in oil painting and drawing technique. I chose my mentor Saloumeh Mehdizadeh after seeing her website and appreciating the quality of art work that she produced. I believe education is an active process, pursuing knowledge that is needed to achieve a certain outcome. I have attended many workshops by highly recognized and skilled artists and I have not stopped drawing and painting over the past eight years.
My aim is to re-examine the fundamentals and techniques of the Old Masters and make them relevant to our contemporary setting. To study the nature of light on a surface, colour, values, form and to apply sound techniques in oil paints and charcoal to create artworks. Confidence in technique enables me to better express my vision.
My focus is on portraiture and figurative artworks in oils or charcoal. I like to tell a story by capturing mood, character, movement, and the impression of a time or place. I take on portrait commissions and have entered several competitions over the past few years. In 2019, I was a finalist in the inaugural Brisbane Portrait Prize with my portrait of Jeannette Young.
I run my own art workshops and classes, as giving back to the art community is also important to me.
Awards and Recognition
2020 – Finalist: Footsquare Competition – Aspire Gallery
2020 – Finalist: Lethbridge 20,000 Small Scale Art Award
2019 – Finalist: Brisbane Portrait Prize
2019 – Finailst: Foot Square Competitiion
2019 – Finalist: Lethbridge 20,000 Small Scale Art Award
2019 – Finalist: Brisbane Rotary Art Spectacular
2018 – Finalist: Lethbridge 10,000 Small Scale Art Award
2018 – Finalist: Brisbane Rotary Art Spectacular
2017 – Online Finalist: Lethbridge 10,000 Small Scale Art Award
2017 – Finalist: ArtWorld Portrait Prize
Exhibitions
Solo Exhibition
2020 – “Timescapes” – Tiny Tree Cafe
2017 – Pop up exhibition – Shilleena’s Dance Academy Studio – Dance Calendar Series
Group Exhibitions
2019 – Saloumeh Mehdizadeh’s exhibition of past and present students
2019, 2020 – Foot Square Exhibition – Aspire Gallery
2018, 2019, 2020 – Lethbridge 10,000 Small Scale Art Award
2018, 2019 – Brisbane Rotary Art Spectacular
2017 – ArtWorld Portrait Prize
Other
Collections:
2017 – Portrait of Tennis Legend – Frank Sedgman – acquired by the Kooyong Foundation for the Australian Tennis Museum at Kooyong, to be displayed as part of their collection.
Artist Biography
How lucky I am to be living my dream of being a full-time Artist!
I had been the top Art student for the last two years of my high school career. The wisdom of the day though was that artists struggle to make a living – that Art was best left as a hobby. At the same time much of the Art that I saw around me relied on shock value or political statements to capture an audience, whereas I value art that brings joy.
I studied a Diploma in Architectural Technology which emphasized visual art and design principles. Architecture may have seemed like a logical career choice as I was also good at maths, but I soon felt it wasn’t the right choice for me. I then completed a BCom (Accounting) degree and spent many years in the super fund industry.
Eight years ago I had an epiphany, where I rediscovered my true identity and reason for being – that I am an Artist! This isn’t just the pursuit of a new hobby or activity, it is who I am.
From that point of realization, I sought out a mentor in oil painting and drawing technique. I chose my mentor Saloumeh Mehdizadeh after seeing her website and appreciating the quality of art work that she produced. I believe education is an active process, pursuing knowledge that is needed to achieve a certain outcome. I have attended many workshops by highly recognized and skilled artists and I have not stopped drawing and painting over the past eight years.
My aim is to re-examine the fundamentals and techniques of the Old Masters and make them relevant to our contemporary setting. To study the nature of light on a surface, colour, values, form and to apply sound techniques in oil paints and charcoal to create artworks. Confidence in technique enables me to better express my vision.
My focus is on portraiture and figurative artworks in oils or charcoal. I like to tell a story by capturing mood, character, movement, and the impression of a time or place. I take on portrait commissions and have entered several competitions over the past few years. In 2019, I was a finalist in the inaugural Brisbane Portrait Prize with my portrait of Jeannette Young.
I run my own art workshops and classes, as giving back to the art community is also important to me.
Awards and Recognition
2020 – Finalist: Footsquare Competition – Aspire Gallery
2020 – Finalist: Lethbridge 20,000 Small Scale Art Award
2019 – Finalist: Brisbane Portrait Prize
2019 – Finailst: Foot Square Competitiion
2019 – Finalist: Lethbridge 20,000 Small Scale Art Award
2019 – Finalist: Brisbane Rotary Art Spectacular
2018 – Finalist: Lethbridge 10,000 Small Scale Art Award
2018 – Finalist: Brisbane Rotary Art Spectacular
2017 – Online Finalist: Lethbridge 10,000 Small Scale Art Award
2017 – Finalist: ArtWorld Portrait Prize
Exhibitions
Solo Exhibition
2020 – “Timescapes” – Tiny Tree Cafe
2017 – Pop up exhibition – Shilleena’s Dance Academy Studio – Dance Calendar Series
Group Exhibitions
2019 – Saloumeh Mehdizadeh’s exhibition of past and present students
2019, 2020 – Foot Square Exhibition – Aspire Gallery
2018, 2019, 2020 – Lethbridge 10,000 Small Scale Art Award
2018, 2019 – Brisbane Rotary Art Spectacular
2017 – ArtWorld Portrait Prize
Other
Collections:
2017 – Portrait of Tennis Legend – Frank Sedgman – acquired by the Kooyong Foundation for the Australian Tennis Museum at Kooyong, to be displayed as part of their collection.