One of my earliest childhood memories is of escaping the watchful eye of my mother to pluck one of her precious dahlias from her garden. It was the garden equivalent of an orchestra and I had fallen in love with the most beautifully lush dahlia. It was a magnificent brilliant magenta and purple and I wanted it. I must have been about 3 at the time and my mom had told me that under no circumstances was I to pick it. But the colour hypnotized me and in my childlike mind flowers that I revered were mine to be picked! My reaction to this flower was instinctual and primitive, and I spent the entire day trying to escape from the house in order to pick it. Finally, much to my mother’s horror and my absolute delight, I was successful. I can still remember the smell and the thrill of finally being in possession of my prize. I still carry the impact of that flower’s beauty and colour with me to this day. Painting, especially my flower subjects; are my way of savouring that moment of absolute delight, reverence and pure unadulterated childlike enjoyment of what I see.
Since then it is always colour that first catches my eye, followed closely by texture. I haven’t changed much from that little 3 year old toddler. I still have the need to touch everything that catches my eye because only once I have seen and touched it, have I experienced it. I am passionate about colour and the feel of nature and its textures beneath my fingertips. This is what inspires me to think about how I could capture something magnificent and express it for others to see and experience the way I do. Painting is my way of admiring, understanding and interpreting what I see. Some use music, others words, I use colour and texture to interpret God’s palette.
Every artist in their own unique way seeks liberating experiences; a need to find ones creative self and a way of painting that is uniquely yours. Every artist desires public acceptance of their work and a sympathetic audience for their expression. I think this is one of the main reasons why art as a discovery of self is not always an easy path to follow. Art is a natural learning and growing process. Simply thinking about what technique and style might best suit one is not enough. Only through hard work, trial and error, and self evaluation does one manage to begin moving in the right direction. Part of the fun for me is the process of getting there. “Finding the way” is more than choosing to paint realistically or abstractly; it is about discovering the combination of ingredients that allows my subjective uniqueness to emerge and grow. This certainly didn’t happen in an instant of inspiration or through one successful experience but rather through developing and exploring areas that interest me and sometimes stepping out of my comfort zone. My art remains a work in progress…
My philosophy behind painting is very simple and uncomplicated. I paint for the pure enjoyment and pleasure of it and it is my hope that I can communicate a little of what I see and love to you through my work. Art is my constant companion and friend and without it I would be completely and absolutely lost.