[box]One of the first things people ask me when we meet is “Where are you from?” You see I’ve been told I have an accent! Really? I hadn’t noticed, I’ve always sounded this way! Well people, I’m an Aussie! To be more correct I grew up in Australia and came to live in the USA in 1997. I’m also an American and love living here and will probably remain here until the day I die. I do enjoy a laugh, mostly at myself. One of my favourite expressions is “You can take the girl out of Australia, but you can’t take Australia out of the girl!”
Ok, I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember. My parents influenced and encouraged me even though they probably don’t suspect that for a minute. My Mum, while talented in her own right, is not an artist, but I do remember her drawing lovely ballerinas for me on lined notepads with a pencil as far back as age 4 or so. My Dad, also not an artist, drew wonderful pictures of Jiminy Cricket and used to tell me that’s all he could draw. Actually, he had a large wooden tool box on which he had painted a palm tree lined beach scene that he took overseas when he worked on contract in Papua New Guinea way back in the 50′s. So I do believe their combined, unrealized artistic talents came alive in me.
To this end, I have been encouraged and praised by both of my parents and my wonderful brother Terry all the way along and would consider it to be a huge disservice to them should I not pursue the wonderful opportunities I have been privy to. My father was “old school” and left most of the parenting to my mother, never really offering advice to my brother and I while growing up. But a few years ago, on one of our almost weekly long distant phone calls, my father now in his 80′s, and I began discussing aging, legacies and life in general. He offered me this little gem.
He said that after working in the auto industry as a very talented craftsman for over 40 years the day he left all of his efforts were quickly forgotten and new, younger tradesmen would fill his shoes. That we could spend our days working in an office but after you leave nobody really remembers what you did or how you did it. But, he offered I had a gift that could impact people and even long after I’ve left this earth, my art would still be here as I reminder of what I created, how I saw my world and that he said was worth something.
As you see from my style and subject matter I enjoy painting the simpler things in life. Items from my surroundings, my home and things that delight me. It is a conscious decision to paint the way I do and it brings me immense satisfaction and joy. I’ve studied with some very talented artists and still discover new and exciting tidbits just about every day.
This artistic life is not for the faint-hearted but it sure is one heck of an adventure! I want to thank you for taking the time to visit and if you are still reading this far down the page then I sincerely appreciate your interest. I love hearing from visitors and count many of my collectors as friends. Finally, I try to live by this phrase – “People don’t care how much we know, until they know how much we care.”
All the best to you and yours!
Colleen[/box]