Background

My artistic journey started - somewhat unconventionally - with a $20 set of watercolour paints, two paintbrushes and a 5 week stay in hospital for depression and anxiety.  After two weeks in hospital, boredom drove me to open up the paints my friend had encouraged me to bring in, and to put colour to paper.  Before this, I had shown no artistic talent, and in fact had been the laughing stock of my family for my dismal efforts in all things artistic. However in hospital - maybe it was the location, maybe I finally had something to say - I found myself creating piece after piece.  Each night I would listen to music on my phone and sketch and paint, producing works that I never imagined I could create. On the day I was discharged, I felt extremely vulnerable and exposed after being tucked safely away in hospital for so long.  This vulnerability came across in the start of my #cantfly series, the first of which is my featured work.  This painting - "If I could only fly" - shows off my fears and concerns that, although I have wings, I might forever be tethered to the ground.  The #cantfly series explores this and is a very personal look into my journey.