Echoes of My Childhood

I grew up on a farm on the outskirts of a small country town in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Our house, built around 1900 was in stark contrast to the bold interior decoration. The orange and green patterned wallpaper and black vinyl couches with bright floral cushions still burn in my retina. The fashion was caught between the echo’s of the 70’s and the new era of the 80’s. The jeans were tight and the hair was big and avon blue eyeshadow was the rage amongst the housewives in town.

I look at the palette of colours I’ve been drawn to lately and its clear how influenced I am by those early childhood memories. This past year has been a deep dive into memories and emotions as I’ve faced the grief of my Mum’s passing. A life time of loving her and I was so unready to say goodbye. I’m discovering there is nothing linear about grieving and loss of loved ones muddies the waters. As I process, I continue to create as echoes of my childhood have been rippling through.

All of my foundational years were spend caught between the bustle of a busy farming family attempting to feel seen as the youngest of four, and the freedom to explore the tree studded bushlands along the river flats, hills and creeks. Summer holidays provided a seascape to Fingal Beach every year for a short stay to add variety to the ways to escape the Australian summer heat. I was always a sunny kid, wide eyed and smiling. I was usually singing as I danced or skipped my way to wherever I was going. Imagination was a gift and blossomed through my childhood.

It feels full circle to see how influenced my current body of work is by those early years. The colours, the nature and my inner daydreamer imagination. The timing of this grief as I have been on a quest to find my authentic voice has been deeply moving, highly emotional but also incredibly rewarding.