The work in this portfolio is fairly diverse, as I tend to be artistically fickle which I’m told is not a particularly good career philosophy. I want to do everything and there just isn’t enough time. So, there’s painting, printmaking, sculpture, drawing, working with ready-made and found objects, experimenting. It would be nice to exhibit more, but for the moment, it’s really art for art’s sake (and for my sanity). I need to do this.
My favourite artists are fairly obvious I think. I am a collector. So, Rosalie Gascoigne (who wasn’t ‘discovered’ until she was 57, a happy precedent for all older artists), Lauren Berkowitz, Jasper Johns, Marcel Duchamp, Andy Goldsworthy, Joseph Cornell.
Other favourites who just make me sigh are ones that have a great sense of design, colour and movement. I also love art done by kids or art that looks like it’s been done by a kid. To me this suggests that the artist has not lost that part of them that makes them fearless. I also love conceptual art. Work that has secrets or makes me laugh is inspirational. Artists whom I feel fall into these categories are, Qi Baishi, Margaret Preston, Fernand Leger, Rodin, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Morandi, Magritte, Barbara Kruger, Lionel Lindsay, Ethel Spowers, Brett Whiteley, Chagall. I haven’t even started on photographers ...
Here’s a list of arty activities I’ve been involved with over the years:
- Finalist; Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize (2007)
- City of Sydney Council Guest Speaker “Creative Pros” (2007)
- Selected Sculpture by the Sea (2007)
- Selected Willoughby art prize exhibition (2006)
- Group exhibition Flinders Street Gallery (2006)
- Selected Fishers Ghost art prize exhibition (2005)
- 2nd Place Reverse Garbage ‘Junk Love’ exhibition. (2D art) (2004)
- Selected Fishers Ghost art prize exhibition (2004)
- Finalist Telstra Paint a Payphone competition (2004)
- Co-ordinating 2 art installations at Woollahra Council for Youth Week (2004)
- Sculpture by the Sea installation “Sculpture By the Driveway” series of replica 1960’s and ‘70’s garage doors (2003)
- Collaborative Installation for South Sydney Council Mascon Festival (2002)
- Collaborative partnership, design and painting, Mooving art cow sculpture (2002)
- Exhibited in Tap Gallery ‘Real Refuses’ exhibition (2002)
- Runner-up; Tap Gallery Environmental Art Award (2002)
- Exhibited in Reverse Garbage ‘Junk Love’ exhibition (2002)
- Winner, Sporting Prize, North Sydney Art Prize (2002)
- Solo exhibition; relief prints. Gallery 1A Surry Hills, Sydney (2001)
- Selected ink paintings KLH gallery Newtown (1999)
- Winning design for Macquarie University Student Diary (1995)
- Solo exhibition; ink paintings. Macquarie University (1995)
- Exhibited in Portia Geach Memorial portrait prize for women (1994)
- Winner, Macquarie University Art Prize (1994 & 1995)
- Selected ink paintings. Mary Reiby Gallery, Newtown (1994)
- Highly commended; Chinese Calligraphy Campbelltown City Show (1994)
- Exhibited in Waverley Woollahra art show (1992 & 1994)
- Australian Chinese Painting Society Annual Exhibition (1992, 1993 & 1994)
- Runner-up Sydney Opera house 21st Birthday poster competition (1992)
- Exhibited in Lane Cove Youth Art Prize show (1990)