the importance of colour in my work

Like many artists, colour is really important to my process. In fact they determine everything!

When I choose colours, it’s intuitive, it’s something I need or want and I can’t really paint when the colours feel off and I’m not connected to the palette. This is showing up again at the moment. I have been in a phase of blues, first looking forward to my trip to Austria, spending time in the mountains, the colours were all different blues with highlights of browns to capture the feeling of the rich soil in the forest in the alps and the smell of the pine forests.

Afterwards more orange came in, bringing the drama through the tension of the complimentary colour and linework in acrylic ink. And just when I think I’m really in flow and a new series is presenting itself…. November arrives.

The rain, the fresh bright greens of spring and the flowering trees in Brisbane are bursting into bloom!

And with the change in my external environment and my inner world comes a change in colour palette. All of a sudden I’m craving many shades of greens and pinks, different more intentional marks.

I often don’t recognise in the moment what is happening but after a little introspection it all makes sense. This time of the year is really busy in our family. It’s ‘birthday season’ for my two kids and myself, there is excitement of the season from Halloween to Xmas and on top of it, it’s the end of the school year in Australia. This means, tired kids, tired parents, tension in the household when behaviour gets worse and what I need is CALM - NURTURING - REDUCING STRESS - SOOTHING OF TEMPERS - HOPE - POSITIVITY

This is where colours and their affect on our body and minds comes in. Right now, whilst I could give in to the feeling of' ‘I should keep painting in the same series’ it’s even more important to stay true to myself and why I paint.

My art is not just so I can sell it (although it’s lovely to have somebody connect with my art), it’s about what feels good for me, what my body and my mind needs in the moment.

Let’s see where this takes me and hope that I can bring some calm and soothing energy back into my household, and yours, should you choose to adopt a piece for your own home.