Pastel Pete the Cockatoo Painting

I am an artist that does not like to be confined to one medium or technique. I love colour and I love to accentuate the hints of colour that you see within nature. I draw, paint, sculpt, wood burn and do timber work, mainly hollow wooden surfboards. My recent creative journey started just over 12 months ago, what started as creativity therapy has led me on a journey I would never have thought imaginable, and whilst at times it has been hard I would not change a minute of it. Here is a bit of background about myself and the journey that has led me to where I am now. I left school at the age of 16 and I completed an Advanced Diploma in Fine Arts in the following four years. I concentrated mostly on sculptures and my true love was in wood carving. After completing my studies life got busy with work, marriage and kids. I still kept my hands busy with different things, but finding time was always a struggle. ​Fast forward to 2014, I had two small children and I needed to create something for my self. I needed to prove to myself I could still create something. A friend at the time showed me a photo of a skin on frame boat and I thought to myself I am going to make one of those, so I did. From this a chance encounter with a local wooden surfboard maker it led me down that road. I made one hollow wooden surfboard and I was addicted. At the end of 2015 I decided being stuck in an office was killing me and I took a leap of faith. I threw in my job and started to make some boards. I was up in my friends shed and somehow the conversation turned to pyrography, so he sent me home that day with a machine to borrow, and I gave it go. A couple of days later I returned with what I had done. Upon which time I was told I was getting his 10 foot stand up paddle board that was in progress to practice on. Despite my protests the board was delivered to my shed and I let it sit there for almost a week before I was game to embark on something so big and I was afraid with my limited skills I would burn through the board! I sucked it up and I started with the board and a few weeks later and about 25 hours drawing I had completed his request, which was for a 'wood wizard' or a face coming out of a tree. After having not been creative for over 10 years, it was wonderful to be back again. Mid way through 2016 I picked up a paintbrush again and now I believe I have found my true passion.