My entré into environmental artwork was not my first shift in media and style. I began my artistic life as a figurative painter, attracted to that form of expression for its narrative qualities. During art school I had moved from figurative paintings to more abstract work. This evolving abstraction and change in identity became an open, abundant field to explore. Free from the confines of structured figurative elements, I was able to work the canvas and paper, sometimes with paint stripper.
After many years of painting, I found myself becoming more courageous and open to the exploration of new materials and technology, thereby able to stretch my self beyond the realms of paintbrush and canvas. In addition to the conscious exploration of new materials and technology, I have found that being alert and open to the benefit of accidents occurring in my art-making processes have lead to some of the most profound breakthroughs in my work.
I was further assisted in discarding lingering habits and identities by a serious fire in my Melbourne studio in 1983. The fire completely destroyed my studio and seven years of work within it, including paintings, drawings and prints. It was a devastating time for me, forcing me to turn my attention inward. This event caused me to take a sabbatical.
The fire was the catalyst for a reassessment of my priorities. After completion of a teachers training degree at the Melbourne College of Advanced Education and some extensive travel in the United States, I felt better prepared to return to my career as a professional practicing artist. This incident of the fire, which had deeply impacted both my personal and professional life, had enabled me to mature overall as a person. Artistically, I acquired the ability to face truths about my work, making radical, necessary changes.