Newbie from Perth, Western Australia

Hi everyone I have been observing this site from the outside for a while now and have plucked up the courage to join.

I grew up on a property south of Perth near the Stirling Ranges and until the age of eight observed everything in blocks of color, very much like Richards small plein air paintings, until a teacher suggested that I may have visual problems and a whole new world was discovered with the wearing of glasses. I started drawing frequently from this time and completed high school art achieving very good results with the help of a most enthusiastic teacher. My father refused to let me do an arts degree and so I enrolled in Vet Science which after six months I discovered I just was not passionate about at all. After working at various occupations and traveling the world, mainly Europe to fulfill my need for culture and the arts when I could afford it, I finally married and settled in Perth with three fabulous children - two of which are very "arty".

My "art apprenticeship" as I refer to it when people ask what I do now (probably the longest apprenticeship in history) - started when I returned to drawing classes and then painting classes. Pandoras box has been opened and boy is there a lot to learn.

Mothers day is coming up and my wish list of Richard's courses is on the fridge - daily visual reminder's help I find leaving little room for error or misunderstanding!!

Look forward to communicating with everyone.

Cheers

Peta