About me…
Looking into my style
The world of art frequently scrutinises realism. I too have asked myself why I align with this genre. What is the purpose of trying to recreate something as simple as a photograph? I have spent years trying to decipher the purpose. In this time, I have realised all my pieces encapsulate the same thing: a memory, emotion, or state of being - one that is fragmented in time and captured before the eye. I try to bring these moments to light, and others have found great joy in being a part of this process. In my mind, realism acts as an agent, breathing animation back into the still-life, photography, and the digital world we have become so accustomed to.
Over time I have chosen women as a focal point in my art. As I look to capture the essence of moments, emotions, and natural expressions, I find women naturally fit these representations.
I see women as a natural phenomenon. It is easier to depict emotion and expression through the embodiment of life, beauty, fertility, intuition, and transformation. Women’s ability to exist as universal symbols of all things ‘natural’ falls effortlessly within the goals of my artistic style.
Despite my natural inclination to depict women, I have found significant value in creating portraits of men. Portraits of men challenge me beyond my scope of practice and comfort, and I find significant value in this. I have greatly enjoyed depicting men in my commissioned artworks where I can honour their memories and expressions.
My journey as an artist
Although I have experimented with many other mediums, I always return to graphite. Pencil art is underrated in its accessibility and form. Graphite, despite its limitations in tone, allows enough space to play with the depth and the values of a piece.
There are a few years that stand out to me in my development as a self-taught artist. As a six-year-old, playing with felt pens and colouring books was always one of my favourite pastimes.
When I was 14, my Year 10 compulsory art class served as a pivotal year in my development as an artist. I spent three hours a week drawing and developing my artistic technique. The teacher centred the class activities around graphite and portrait work, and unbeknownst to me, these hours laid the foundations of skills I use today.
In 2020, I was able to reconnect with my art at a more mature age during the COVID-19 lockdown. In previous years, I spent less time on portraits during sporting pursuits and school exams. I suddenly had time to complete an abundance of artwork. I honed my skill set and experimented with other art forms including acrylic and oil painting.
In 2024, I created the portrait Gaze. I felt this piece was very special because, for the first time, I captured exactly what I had envisioned. This piece was fundamental to my newfound belief that I could create work for others, and I gained more confidence in my abilities.
My experience with perfectionism and realism
For as long as I have created art, I have struggled with perfectionism. The desire for a ‘perfect’ image creates undercurrents of pressure behind the work. At times, I have driven my family crazy, ruining beautiful pieces in an attempt to redo anything I deemed unfit. It is not, however, as simplistic as ‘don’t be a perfectionist’.
I find the link between realism and perfectionism is almost essential; one nearly ceases to exist without the other. For as long as I was developing portrait skills, I had to be precise. I found that building these skills took time and dedication. I would not have achieved my potential without leaning into variations of perfectionism. I have learned the hard way, however, that art as a man-made product will inevitably not be perfect. As I have matured, my art attempts to embrace and lean into this tension, walking the line between the perfect and natural.
I have become more confident and self-assured with each year of creating more artwork, including learning about my personal style and myself. I am very excited to see where I take this throughout my life.