Whilst doing my Diploma of Visual Arts many years ago, back in 2008, I was encouraged to delve deeper into what I wanted to say and which medium worked for me. While art school can very much remind you of your short comings, there was definitely a sense of 'finding myself' as I happily delved into the process of turning my photographic imagery into film stencils which I then screen printed onto various surfaces.
I also discovered a love of painting, even though I could not quite put a name to what I liked to paint, nor could I admit that I was even good at it. I just loved abstract, and enjoyed a smear it and see what happens approach.
As with all my work, past present and future, there is an element of creative exploration for the joy of it. Just as, in what seems like forever ago, when I explored vocal improvisations and sounds at the Victorian College of the Arts in the late 80's, I could not ever do a prescribed rendition of whatever the punters were asking for. And thank god for that some would say. I made soundscapes, and wrote my own words to express what was going on inside of me. It was raw, fly by the seat of my pants stuff. And I am so truly grateful I was afforded the freedom to explore that in a creative and supported environment.
Today, I look back in awe and wonder as I listen to whats left of the tapes of those soundscapes, I look at previous works of art and am amazed at how life, (after these explorations), honed a very different person from that young woman.
I have no idea where any of this Art emergence is going and to be honest, I really don't want to. I'm just now heading into whatever territory comes, brush and printmaking tools in hand to see where it leads. And how does creative expression get better than that?