About the Artist
How did you first get into art?
I’ve been doing some form of art for as long as I can remember, so I don’t have a single clear first memory of picking up a paintbrush. I was very young when I started experimenting with it.
As a child, I loved looking through picture books purely for the illustrations. They would spark my imagination and make me feel like I was stepping into another world. Both my parents are super creative people so they’ve been a huge inspiration in my artistic journey, dad encouraged me to explore painting more seriously in my late teens, as I had mainly been working with pencils and Posca pens at the time. He is an incredible artist himself, and I always loved seeing what he created. One day he said to me “I reckon you should try painting Han, you’ll love it!” and off I went. It definitely opened up a whole new world for me.
How would you describe your artistic style? Has it changed over time?
My style has changed quite a lot over the years, and I expect it will continue to evolve naturally.
These days, I’m drawn to nature, birds, native flowers and plants, and ocean landscapes. I have a deep love for the ocean and the way light transforms everything throughout the day. I’m always noticing these shifts and feel inspired to capture the atmosphere and feeling of a moment.
I also really enjoy painting birds. I’m fascinated by their detail and the challenge of capturing them realistically. I feel the same way about flowers. I aim to portray them with both realism and a sense of magic. There’s a balance I’m always trying to achieve between simplicity and intricate detail, to reflect nature as I experience it.
What do you enjoy outside of painting?
Outside of painting, I find a lot of joy in being in the ocean and surfing, as well as spending time with my partner and family—including Banjo (my parents’ dog).
I really enjoy being around people in general and learning about their lives. I also work as a barista so I like making coffee, listening to music and playing it (I’ve dabbled in guitar and mandolin a bit), sewing, and learning new creative skills with my hands. I do love travelling and it kept me busy throughout my 20’s and I am so grateful for all the experiences that it entailed. Right now I don’t have itchy feet but am always excited to discover a new place or go on a spontaneous adventure.
I’ve recently taken up photography as another creative outlet so let’s see where that leads. I’m also very passionate about running art workshops, creating spaces where people can come together and reconnect with their own creativity.
Life is pretty full at the moment and I am enjoying the journey.
What are your creative goals for the future?
I’m excited to keep painting more consistently and to build momentum so I can bring more of my ideas to life. I want to keep learning, expanding, and evolving my style—there is still so much I want to explore.
I would love to work on larger scale artworks in the future and give myself more freedom to experiment. I’ve done some murals all over the world, and I feel drawn to returning to that kind of work again.
Ideally, I’d love to have a dedicated studio space where I can really paint with freedom and create on a larger scale. Ultimately, I hope my art continues to inspire others and reminds people that creativity and possibility are always within reach.
Where do you find inspiration?
There is constantly so much I want to paint; it feels like an ongoing backlog of ideas waiting to be brought to life.
A lot of my inspiration comes from time spent in the ocean surfing. Every time I’m out there, I’m full of ideas and the elements are constantly changing so it's always full of surprises. I notice birds swooping over the water, turtles surfacing, surfers dancing across waves, and the changing light across the headland and beach. The ocean is always different depending on the time of day. Sunrise, sunset, or midday light and that constantly shifts how everything feels.
It’s an incredibly sensory experience and always sparks creativity. Inspiration also comes quickly from everyday life. A flower I notice, a bird I think of painting, or even a conversation with someone. One idea often leads to another, and a whole scene begins to form. All of that mixed with letting my imagination run wild, which has always been an easy thing for me.
What mediums do you work with? Have you explored others?
At the moment, I mainly work with acrylics. I’m comfortable with the medium and appreciate how easily it allows layering and adjustments. It’s also quite forgiving, which gives me room to experiment.
I’ve always been curious about oils, but I haven’t made the leap yet. That may be something I explore in the future.