From Little Things, Big Things Grow

September 26, 2026

I am a transient person. I don't own my own home or rent longterm. The nature of medical training sees me move regularly through training. I currently live in a house provided by my workplace. I have shared this space with another doctor for most of the year. This unpredictable living makes being an artist difficult. From space to paint, to lack of suppliers in remote locations, and access to opportunities to sell and exhibit art, it has been an interesting couple of a years as a newbie artist. Also, being a doctor means I am only a sometimes artist.

Storing supplies and unsold art is a struggle most people don't talk about. Maybe because we don't want to look like failures if we show how much canvas has accumulated. However, the nature of painting on canvas is a dilemma of space. I have always painted in makeshift studios. From the floor of my bedroom in a huge share house during internship to a small corner of the lounge room in my current share house. Let's be honest, having a hobby you want to invest in also means dedicating space to that hobby, even if you have to take space away from other things. Sometimes life circumstances makes the dream of turning a room in a house, or building a studio outback, take a back seat. I've made do over the years. Sometimes it isn't about a physical space. Registering for an ABN, creating this website, and learning to build a social media platform are other ways I can grow space with what I have and provide the potential to grow.

When I look back at my paintings over the years, I have done a lot of small works. Space is primarily the reason why. Having makeshift studios, painting on bedroom floors between shifts for example, is why I kept most of my artwork small. I've realised over the last year or so I am reaching for bigger canvas. With some changes in my circumstances coming up this year, I am back to the dilemma of storing all unsold artworks, some of them larger (I can't wait to share about what is happening this year with you).

I wanted to take a moment to look back at some of my smaller canvases over the years Small I classify as 30x30cm or smaller. When I look back over them, I see so much growth as an artist. Some pieces I have plans to repaint them bigger and better.

Eucalyptus Hues. 30x30cm. Unavailable.

What better way to start than right at the beginning. This is one of my original artworks. Not just one of the first paintings I sold or someone took an interest in. This was one of my first experiments. It's unavailable for purchase because it is an original. It still reminds me of humble beginnings and I am not ready to part with it. You can read about it and my other originals here.

Ochre and Dust. 30x30cm. Available.

Strong typical desert colours. Not much else to say about this one.

Little Green. 25x25cm. Available.

While the primary green at the top of this painting is an aqua/turquoise, the mixture greens used reminds me ghost gums.

Where the Blue Mallee Grow. 25x30cm. Sold

I loved this painting. Glad it found a forever home.

Country. 30x30cm. Available.

I haven't been able to replicate this style. I've tried and I have sold two painitngs which were modelled of this small painting, but they didn't come out the way this one did. It was born out of moment that I can't reconnect with. This painting is stuck back home in Warramunga Country.

Sea to Desert. 25x25cm. Sold

I've only ever done one other painting where I incorporated dotes into my linear work like this. It will feature in a blog post called 'Sold Part 2' coming soon.

Aurora Australis. 30x30cm. Available.

I wanted to challenge myself and paint something with green that didn't represent trees. I painted this after a strong Aurora in the southern parts of the country. Beyond that, it is also a representation of our relationship with the stars and the universe.

Claypans. 30x30cm. Sold

This painting was one of my favourite palettes to use.

Claypans after Rain. 30x30cm. Available.

Claypans obviously change with weather. It's beautiful watching the claypans fill then slowly the water drains away into underwater aquifers. The clay remains dark and damp for some time before completely drying out. This represents that time.

Glimmers. 25x35cm. Sold.