Donna

I’ve been painting and drawing for as long as I can remember, but it wasn’t until 2021 that I decided to return to study and finally pursue a lifelong dream I had long set aside. After completing my Diploma of Visual Arts at Wollongong TAFE in 2023, my practice evolved dramatically. The experience opened my eyes to new methods, mediums, and ways of seeing. I set myself a personal goal to step outside my comfort zone, explore unfamiliar genres, and create an entirely new body of work—culminating in my debut local exhibition within 12 months.

Portraiture has always been my first love, often celebrating the vibrant and colourful lives of Indigenous peoples, particularly those in India. In contrast, landscapes once felt elusive to me—beautiful but somehow distant, never quite capturing the awe I feel when immersed in open scenery. I wanted to change that. Determined to find connection and meaning, I began exploring my local surroundings, painting en plein air, photographing my experiences, and embracing new creative challenges. Through mixed media, texture, layering, transparency, and colour, I sought to illuminate the landscapes that took my breath away.

My work is influenced by the loose, childlike scribbles of Cy Twombly, the bold divisions of colour by Richard Diebenkorn, and the expressive brushwork and masterful use of colour by Henri Matisse.