My Art Journey
Art has always been a part of my life. As a child, I was fascinated with colour and the magic it brought to the world. I spent many an hour drawing, trying to bring the world around me to life. Trees came easily, and gazing at their stoic forms bearing witness to the passing of time inspired many of my early works. They delighted me with their displays of colour and their gnarled shapes hewn in defiance of the elements. It was there amongst the leaves and colour-striped trunks that my love of the interaction of colours and the stories a picture can tell grew. But that is where my talent seemed to end, people came out as misshapen figures and those trees I loved were deemed not as good as I thought. So, as I transitioned to an adult and life got harder, I left my dream behind. Though I never gave up my love for art, I was regularly stopped in my tracks by a magnificent creation.
It wasn’t until I was in my 60s, that I had time to explore myself. Predictably, the only place I wanted to go was back to my art. My expectations were low, but my enthusiasm was high. I discovered Flow Art, also known as Pouring. This art form used vibrant colours to create mesmerising images, and I was captivated. I absolutely loved it and even entered some of my work into an art competition, shortly after I received first place based on ‘you guessed it’, my ability to work with colour.
Buoyed by my newfound confidence, I venture further into the creative world. I began experimenting with every type of medium I could, to the point where I was regularly told to ‘just pick one already’. But I couldn’t. I was on a quest, obsessed and driven to find my perfect medium, the one thing that let me express all the images in my head the way I wanted. I experimented with mixed media, trained in incorporating people in my art, I explored negative space, painting, drawing, you name it, I tried it.
Then one day, I stumbled upon a video about quilling, and that was it. The intricate beauty of this art form sparked an idea: what if I could incorporate quilling into my acrylic artworks? I envisioned using quilling to enhance my paintings, taking them to an entirely new level. As I began experimenting, I discovered a deep connection with quilling. What started as a complementary element soon evolved into standalone pieces of art.
My journey didn’t stop there. I began combining my drawings with digital tools, transforming them into unique images. I would select a central element and bring it to life through quilling. This process allowed me to merge my drawing, painting, and colour skills with the delicate craft of quilling, creating truly one-of-a-kind pieces. I love how this approach brings a dying art form back to life and transforms it into something fresh and exciting.
Today, my journey as an artist continues to evolve. Each step has been a discovery, and I am thrilled to see where this creative path will lead me next. Art has taught me that it’s never too late to find your passion, and I am so grateful to share my story through the colours and forms that inspire me every day.