Story behind 'Perseverant'

“Perseverant” is a piece that I created at the end of 2023 that was initially inspired by the sunsets that descend behind the hills and trees of Bungendore. However, as I began to create the piece, I realised it reflected my past year - a journey marked by peaks and valleys as I relentlessly persevered through the most challenging period of my life so far.

I was pushed to my absolute limits, balancing the joys and challenges of my first year of parenthood, completing the final year of my masters, and nurturing the expansion of my business. It became a year of resilience, determination, perseverance - made possible with the strength I drew from my support network. With the unwavering support of my husband, family, friends, and associates, I navigated the ups and downs and achieved what I was told was impossible.

It is my hope that “Perseverant” serves as a reminder to pursue the seemingly impossible, because you won’t know if it's achievable unless you give it a try.

Story behind 'Infinite Journeys'

“Infinite Journeys” was inspired by the Aboriginal countries I have been fortunate to have crossed, from the ocean to the bush to the ocean and back again. The piece utilises nature's elements to convey messages on empowerment and inspiration. 

"Prosperity" is inspired by the idea that luck is not a mere coincidence, but a product of our own efforts. Often, I am told how lucky I am when it comes to the opportunities and achievements in my journey but when I reflect, I see determination, courage, hard work, resilience, and decision-making. The ladybug is usually synonymous with luck; however, it can also represent determination and resilience and so, "Prosperity" serves as a reminder that our willingness to embrace opportunities and persevere through challenges can lead us to create our own ‘luck.’

“Dedication” is inspired by the bee because when I think of bees, I think hard working, productive, collaborative, and dedicated to purpose. In a time when there is so much change and uncertainty, something that can ground us is dedication to purpose. Just like a hive of bees working harmoniously, when it comes to shared purpose, we, too, must recognise the value of our unique roles and come together to forge new paths, overcome obstacles, and create a lasting impact.

"Independently Together" is inspired by Maya Angelou's empowering quote, 'In diversity, there is beauty and there is strength.' The six hands of various shades of brown represent individuality and diversity, each representing a unique identity and background. The hands are placed around the painting to highlight the importance of embracing differences and celebrating the beauty found within diversity.

The two interlocking lines symbolise commitment and represent the idea that despite our differences, we are interconnected and share a common goal of unity and inclusivity. Moving towards the centre of the artwork, figures of different shades of brown are depicted, further emphasising the diversity and range of identities within the community. At the heart of the painting, a hand emerges, combining all the colours together. This hand represents the commitment to diversity and acknowledges the strength that arises when individuals come together, united in their unique qualities and perspectives.

The choice of green adds another layer of meaning to the artwork. Green traditionally symbolises growth and renewal, serving as a reminder of the continuous progress and development that comes from embracing diversity. "Independently Together" conveys the message that unity and strength can be found in acknowledging and appreciating each other’s uniqueness and diverse perspectives.

"Curves of Transformation" is a reflection of my own journey and the importance of boundless curiosity, a growth mindset and the courage to embrace the unknown and navigate the ups and downs of life's journey.

At the heart of this artwork are six sets of footprints, each facing different directions to symbolise the diverse paths and choices we encounter. The footprints themselves become a metaphor for the journey we embark upon. The footprints that face upwards, represent the uplifting moments, accomplishments, and joyous phases we experience. Conversely, the footprints that face downwards, represent the challenging times and setbacks that we face. Overall they represent the rollercoaster nature of growth and the constant interplay between highs and lows.

The colours were also deliberately chosen with curiosity represented by the yellow, growth represented by the green and the magenta signifying change and embracing the uncertainties and challenges that life presents.

It is my hope that "Curves of Transformation" serves as a reminder that life's mysteries and fluctuations are not obstacles to be avoided but rather opportunities for personal development.

The painting titled "Family" is inspired by the quote "Family is family, whether it's the one you start out with, the one you end up with, or the family you gain along the way" ~ Gloria Delgado-Pritchett. The painting serves as a reminder of the importance of cherishing and nurturing our family relationships, no matter how they come into being. Its message is one of inclusivity and love, inviting us to embrace the many different forms that family can take, and to cherish the connections that we share with those closest to us. Whether we are born into a family, create one for ourselves, or gain one along the way.

"Foundations" is inspired by the quote "Without a solid foundation, you'll have trouble creating anything of value" ~ Robert Payne. It explores the idea that a strong foundation is essential to creating a life filled with happiness and fulfilment. The painting serves as a reminder of the importance of nurturing our relationships with effective communication, authentic love, and unwavering integrity, in order to build a life that is filled with happiness and fulfilment.

The painting titled "With Us Always" is a tribute to the idea that the ones we love are never truly gone and is inspired by the quote "Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us every day" ~ Alex MacLean. The artwork conveys the idea that our loved ones are still with us in spirit, and that we carry their memories and their love with us wherever we go.

Patience is inspired by the quote by Ken Pett: “Every flower blooms in its own time.”

What I have noticed on my walks in the spring is that not all the flora blooms at the same time. To me it acts as a reminder to be patient, and that when I am eager for something to happen, knowing it will happen when the time is right. We are all running our own race and just as the blooms of spring flower in their own time, so do we.

As the time quickly approaches when my husband and I become first time parents next month, Commitment to You is a piece that I wanted to create that depicts my hope for our unborn child. That hope being that we can provide them with the guidance and opportunities to thrive, equipped with courage and confidence, to take with them on whichever path they choose.

Resilience is inspired by the wattle that I enjoy seeing slowly flowering on my walks at the start of spring. Turns our wattle is quite the resilient plant, withstanding drought, winds, and bushfires. This piece acts as a reminder that our resilience can be strengthened and that every opportunity that we are presented with to strengthen it counts. So, keep in mind Catherine DeVrye quote when doubting your resilience, “Like tiny seeds with potent power to push through tough ground and become mighty trees, we hold innate reserves of unimaginable strength. We are resilient.”

“The path to growth is not a straight line” - Valerie Costello.

When I reflect on my own journey, I can see that it is because of the strong foundations that I laid and the detours I have taken, and take, that shape my pathway to growth. I rarely knew (or know) where my path will lead but on reflection, I can see that all the stops I have made along the way are connected and contribute to my ongoing journey and my greatest learning is to trust, and enjoy, the pathway to growth.

Since moving down to Ngunnawal/Ngambri country over a decade ago from the Gold Coast, the colours of nature throughout the year never ceases to leave me in awe. Whilst I love seeing the colours of spring and the new beginnings it represents, or the white frost that covers the landscape in winter, autumn must be my all-time favourite. I just love seeing the transitional colours of the trees and I had to capture them in a painting and whilst autumn may represent loss, this quote by Angie Weiland-Crosby provides a more positive outlook to keep in mind when the leaves begin to fall, "Autumn whispered to the wind, I fall; but always rise again."

‘New Life’ is a celebration of our first baby due at the end of November 2022 and inspired by Eda Leshan’s quote, "A new baby is like the beginning of all things - wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities.”

This quote resonated with me because I look forward to my husband and I supporting our baby to grow into their own person. The colours in this piece represent some of the attributes I hope to expose them to - kindness, compassion, the positive impacts from having determination, ambition, and independence, as well as provide an environment of stability to enable them to challenge boundaries, learn from failure and develop a growth and abundance mindset. Setting them best we can for when they embark on their own journey.

Inspired by Ken Poirot’s quote, "Today is your opportunity to build the tomorrow you want,” this piece captures my journey of the opportunities I have jumped for over the last 18 months. What I have learnt from making the jump into my own business full time is that it starts with today. Beginning at the base of the painting with the big and what seemed impossible jump I made, once I made that first jump, the jumps that followed seemed to become easier and easier to make. That is not to say that it has not been a challenging journey - it has, but one I do not regret and that I take so much joy from every day. So, I hope this piece inspires you to consider making the jump when that next opportunity comes your way.

I am an early riser and I love seeing the colours of a beautiful sunrise. It amazes me how quickly the colours change and one moment it is a sunrise and the next, the new day begins. Opportunities come and go like that too and it is what has inspired this piece called ‘Moments.’ William Arthur Ward’s quote "Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them” captures this concept nicely. So, I hope ‘Moments’ acts as a reminder to jump on the opportunities that come your way before they pass by like a sunrise.

‘Courage’ is inspired by David Viscott’s quote: “If you have the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed,” which rings true for me because when overwhelm threatens I remind myself all I need to do is start. This first step may or may not be the right direction, but it is better than remaining stagnant. To represent this journey, I have used distinct colours, beginning with the first step. The first step is in the black, to represent poor visibility aka the unknown. It is curiosity (yellow), then courage (orange) and finally action (red) that propels our journey forward. By that stage, we are well and truly on our journey and that began with taking that first step.

One of my favourite daily rituals is my morning walk around the streets of Bungendore with my little dog named Peggie. The walk is good for my wellbeing and clears my head and reminds me to focus on the present. I do that by taking notice of all the different varieties of birds that I see along my walk, including cockatoos, galahs, magpies, crimson, green and eastern rosellas, and willy wagtails. On one walk, I even saw yellow-tailed black cockatoos. These beautiful birds are all represented in Birds of Bungendore, and I hope the piece encourages the viewer to focus on being in the present.

“Self confidence is a super power. Once you start to believe in yourself, magic starts happening.” - Lauryn Hoover.

As I continue my journey, I find myself walking a path I never imagined possible. ‘Confidence’ was created as a reminder to myself to believe in my own abilities and feel the reward that comes with it. I hope this piece resonates with you and gives you strength to harness your own self confidence and achieve your unimaginable.

I created Inner Strength as a reminder of the power that comes from focusing on the breath. A younger me (and at times a present me) would get so caught up worrying about situations that had not even happened yet. In my self-discovery journey, I have learned that worrying about the future or dwelling on the past, means I miss the present; and the present is all I need to focus on. In moments of overwhelm, when my mind wanders from the present moment, I draw myself back to the present by focusing on my breath. It sounds simple, but it did (and does) require practice. With an insatiable appetite for growth and the enjoyment of challenging my limits, it is what helps me keep pushing through.

‘Boundless’ is inspired by Matshona Dhliwayo’s quote: “Reach for the stars, not your fears”.

I have always challenged myself but it has only been the last couple of years or so that I have stopped being limited by fear. Trusting in myself and my abilities and being ok with uncertainty is helping me to become boundless in whatever endeavours I choose to undertake in my ongoing journey. I hope my piece ‘Boundless’ can ignite a similar response in others to put their fears aside and reach for the stars.

‘Expanding’ is inspired by Rene Descartes’ quote “I think, therefore I am”. I have come to believe that what you focus on expands. Turns out, this is called the law of attraction where like attracts like. The more you focus on a particular thing, the more that you bring that very thing into your life. So ‘Expanding’ acts as a reminder to pay attention to our thoughts and to focus them on what we want to bring more of into our life.

I love the kookaburra and its unique call that sounds like laughter. Whenever I hear a kookaburra laughing it makes me smile. In life, I have learned that happiness is a journey, it's not a destination and so I find ways to bring happiness to my everyday life. Even something as simple as a kookaburra laughing or a beautiful sunrise or sunset brings me a sense of happiness. So find ways to bring yourself happiness everyday.

I remember when I was growing up on the Gold Coast and it would rain, we would have little green tree frogs come visit. You’d know they were there because of their loud croaking. When I think of what a frog represents to me, I think of renewal and an opportunity to experience growth. I hope this piece acts as a reminder to look for growth opportunities.

Embrace the koala’s calmness, especially when in stressful situations as remaining calm will allow you to keep a clear head and take the right course of action for the situation. So when I am experiencing a stressful situation, I take a deep breath or two, endeavour to focus on the positive outcomes that can occur to quieten the negative thoughts. Lastly, I remind myself that this current state won’t last forever and there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

I have always been fascinated by the platypus, you don’t see them very often, from what I can recall I’ve only seen one in its natural habitat. When I think of the platypus I think it is a very unique and solitary creature, something I can somewhat relate to because whilst I enjoy socialising I very much like being by myself. Often this time is spent painting or reflecting. So when someone views this painting I hope it reminds them to take some time to reflect and learn from past experiences and perhaps identify what makes them unique and embrace.

‘In the moment’ is inspired by Vivian Greene’s quote: “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning how to dance in the rain”.

When I was in my late teens and very early 20s, I would always be finding something in the future to look forward to. Then I’d find that something would happen and I go from super happy to super down when it was over and then the process to find something else to look forward to would begin.

I know this story is not unfamiliar, and the way I overcame this unhealthy mindset was to turn my attention to the present - to be in the moment. I’m not saying not to look forward to something, but to enjoy the journey to your destination.

‘Determination’ is inspired by the quote: "I am not sure how but I will," (ourmindfullife.com) and it represents belief in oneself when the path is unclear. As I continue along my own journey, it continues to become clearer that I need to trust in myself. I reflect back to times when I didn’t know how I was going to do something but managed to find a way. This piece acts as a reminder to not get caught up in the how and just trust and believe in yourself.

‘Here and Now’ is inspired by the quote, "The grass is greener where you water it," - Neil Barringham.

Often, situations will happen that are out of our control however we are in control of how we respond to them. This piece is about focusing on what one can control and putting the effort and energy into our own happiness. Happiness does not lay in tomorrow, tomorrow never comes. Happiness can only be experienced in the present.

‘Commitment to self’ is inspired by the quote, "Self love isn’t selfish, it’s important," - anonymous.

From my own experience and observations, when one is passionate about something they can sometimes give everything they have and leave nothing for themself. This isn’t sustainable. To be able to keep giving, you need to give to yourself too. So take time out for yourself and don’t think for one minute that it’s selfish to do so - we all need to recharge.

‘Beautiful Change’ is inspired by the butterfly and the transformation it undertakes to gain its wings. The butterfly is proof change can be beautiful because without change, there would be no butterflies. So instead of fearing change, embrace it and experience your own beautiful change and gain your wings.

‘Unconditionally kind’ is inspired by the quote, "A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle" - James Keller.

‘Unconditionally kind’ represents all who spread love and kindness unconditionally to another person. Being kind to another costs you nothing to give but priceless to those you give it to (even if they don’t know it). Now being kind isn’t always easy. It takes great strength to be kind, especially when it’s not reciprocated. I hope the piece reminds people that when they come across rude and unkind people - that they try to remember that they are ones who are most in need of kindness.

The piece was created with Mother’s Day in mind, however I want it to be a piece that makes the perfect gift to provide that person - or people - who embody unconditional kindness. Be that a parent, grandparent, friend, partner or mentor.

‘Together’ was inspired by Robert Ingersoll’s quote, "We rise by lifting others up," and the cohort I completed Xplore’s Advanced Career Resilience course with last year. Over 8 weeks, a bunch of amazing like-minded women came together and went on a journey together that ignited and continues to ignite our potential. Three months on and we continue to encourage and celebrate each of our successes and are there to support each other when we’re struggling. So referring back to my Uplifting piece, surround yourself with people who will lift you up and rise by lifting others.

This piece titled ‘Forever Bonded’ was an interesting piece to create. When I started, I didn’t know what it was going to represent but knew it’d have two butterflies flying towards the moon. When I finished it - I actually didn’t like it very much but then it grew on me and I had to unpack what it was representing for me and choose a name for it. I decided it represented the bond between siblings and the unconditional love that comes with being siblings. I then came across this quote by Susan Scarf Merrell which summed up what I was feeling when I looked at this piece: “Our brothers and sisters are there with us from the dawn of our personal stories to the inevitable dusk.”

‘Love & Kindness’ is inspired by the quote, “Leave footprints of love and kindness wherever you go,” (author anonymous).

Kindness is one of my values and over the years I have made a conscious effort to place a greater focus on being kind - kind to others and to self. When I was younger I had the misconception that kindness was a sign of weakness when in actual fact, it’s the opposite. Being kind actually takes strength and courage and it can be difficult at times. I don’t always get it right but that's what makes me human.

To me Theodore Roosevelt sums up why it's worth persevering to bring more kindness to this world: “Nothing in the world is worth having or doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty...I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.”

Clarity’ was inspired by the quote, "Not all storms come to disrupt your life, some come to clear your path," – Anonymous.

Like many, I have had events happen in my life that I didn’t understand at the time but, on reflection, once the storm passed they ended up providing clarity and, in my personal experience, an opportunity for growth. So this piece acts as a reminder that the storm will eventually pass so hang in there.

This painting titled Growth represents one of my values. I believe there is always room to grow and become a better version of yourself. I am continually looking to build my knowledge, understanding and draw insights from my experiences to be a better version of myself than I was yesterday. And in my paintings I use trees to represent this. In the evening I often take a few minutes to reflect on the day and practice gratitude. My days are often so fast paced I find it important for my well-being to complete this daily routine and live up to my value of continual growth.

Life is a journey, full of ups and downs, and for me, the past two years have been no different. I have experienced massive personal growth personally and professionally.

This piece in particular represents a particular point in time starting from back in early 2017 with my decision to take my artwork in a new direction, one where I tell my own stories and experiences in pieces of artwork and be at peace with my lack of traditional stories of my culture. Not long after that decision, a mentor of mine was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died within months. Soon after that, my nan passed unexpectedly and to top it off my childhood dog also passed. First time really experiencing grief and I had a triple whammy in a space of four months. However, I grew from that experience and immersed myself in my artwork as an avenue for coping and healing. And I am a big believer in everything happening for a reason and if it wasn’t for my recent experience of grief, I’d never have produced such a meaningful piece for the Palliative Care Australia commission.

Whilst there were some tough lessons in 2017 that year did come with its ups with my now fiance and I purchasing a block of land as part of a subdivision. We had expected to be settling 10 months later however it ended up being 27 months later when we settled in September 2019. Shortly followed by a marriage proposal 2 weeks later. I was also promoted to a new position at work and I made my art into an official business in July 2018. Since becoming an official business, I have had multiple commissions including for two organisations that are part of a global network, PwC Australia and CPA Australia.

Safe to say the past two years have been a journey full of ups and downs and whilst I am sure the next couple of years will be packed with new and exciting experiences such as building our dream home and getting married, I know there will be times that continue to challenge me and provide me an opportunity to continue my journey of growth.