When it comes to women artists on DeviantArt there is one I look up to above the rest. She has helped me on so many occassions, and inspired me, listened when I needed someone to listen to me whinging, and taught me a lot about art itself. she gives me daily support with my work for over a year now, gave the confidence to face the real world and start selling my artwork, and taught me a lot about myself, and being a woman. I look up to her not only as an artist, but also as a mother, working very hard to raise her son, and succeed as an artist. She created quite large body of work, and is highly collected worldwide. People when they see her artwork usually cant get enough.

thank you for being you.




Can you please tell me a little bit about yourself?

I'm 33, a fulltime artist, a mum, and a tutor to my son . I also dabble in music and songwriting- I own a couple of guitars and a mandolin.
I was always very musical- never thought I had an artistic bone in my body other than dancing, playing flute, and then as I grew older I dabbled in sculpture and eventually picked up a paint brush while staying on my uncle's farm in Fji.
At that time I believed I couldn't paint. I tried but from a very stilted view of what painting was supposed to be. I thought you had to paint what you see in front of you as far as , well, the realistic picture.
It wasn't until I started painting nudes seriously around 4 years ago, that I realised you can define art specifically by colour, shape, light and line- and my eyes were opened up to the world of painting.

What do you enjoy about artwork?

I enjoy the freedom of expression. I just love the energy I can portray on the canvas and looking at the end results and thinking "WOW I created that". It's amazing. Like giving birth but you decide the peronsality traits of the child! It's 100% creation.
I also enjoy the "other world". The time you have away from people and demands, the only questions being asked are by yourself. That's a nice place to be .

What inspires you?
Stagnation. Failure. Fear of failure. Failure and depression are at times the biggest impetus to picking up that brush.
Even more than inspiration, what drives me is the dire need to create. To know I've done everything I can with the time I have been given. Failure to me, is lack of growth.
I feel that through art, I have found a real meaning to my life and it has given me immeasurable strength and determination to. I'm like a raging fire now.
Music is another driving force, a real source of inspration. When I paint I am 90% of the time listening to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. He just draws me into his world, the music is always so complex and at times so beautiful. Other times its angry and violent and humurous all at once- it's very potent.

Can you name me few inspirational artists on DA and why they are inspiration to you?

Well, aside from YOU haha, I really admire...

, she is uninhibited and has an amazing handle of watercolour its just delicious. I like her kickass attitude.
for his talent, and relentless determination for world domination! he's also a very apporachable person which is amazing considering his ability - some people can become a bit snobby and elistist but he is very much a gentleman. He keeps outdoing himself- show off!
For her energy and exhuberance, she is very warm and happy and always leave you feeling very much alive when you've heard from her. Not to mention her talent as a photographer and model. She's a strong woman, a lot more powerful than I think she realises.
He has evolved before my eyes and it's just beautiful to watch. He is a wonderful artist. Very organic and amazing use of colour. I really enjoy his gallery and waiting for his next piece!

Which are your 5 favourite works of yours and why?

Difficult to choose as my DA gallery is not really representative of all of my work- there's not much here for me to choose from- I had better upload some more! Anyway... here goes.
Epiphany nude movement no .1 made me cry. So it's always going to be there.
Was one of the first of my larger single canvases, 180x 120 cm. Very stong statement, a solid piece and I got a lot of compliments over that so of course, it's a fave.
One of my signature artworks. I use a lot of these free flowing, swirl formations in my work. And lots of fire/earth/spririt coming out of these pieces.
Charcoal sketches and mixed media are just something I can't get enough of. I love again, the freedom in grabbing an old burnt stick and just scratching away, smudging, scribbling, going crazy, reigning in again the energy and being in tune with the subtle requirements that make a simple sketch work. It's a delicate balance. And of course- I had to choose this as I quote Nick Cave and well, he is my secret boyfriend!
I LOVE the electricity in this piece. Pastels are one of my favorite mediums. I find them to be very liberating.

Which themes do you like exploring with your artwork and why?

I am primarily interested in gestrual nudes and abstract expressionism. Abstract expressionism is where I spend most of my time these days. I am a very intuitive artist- I can't handle repression or having to exhibit patience. I am fast and full of nervous energy. I love just emploiying my energy and transferring it to my art- and it's just something I've grown to be through a lot of hours painting.

How do you find yourself as a woman in the artworld?
I see myself as a successful artist- I am an emerging artist, and yet I have already sold many hundreds of pieces worldwide. I believe I have the capability to go anywhere with my art, it will just take time, commitement and persitance. I'm here for the long haul.

Can you name 5 of your favourite works on DA and tell us why they are your favourite?

Rather than explain exactly why it is these are my favourites, I'll just tell you my immediate reaction to each piece... I wish I had more time as I feel this won't be entirely accurate, and could change with time but for now....
The lips, they are just so delicious. The light on her abdomen, the shadows, the colour, the washes, the textures within the washes. It's just a beautiful piece of art and I love it.
The way the tree comes to the foreground, the background is blurred, just as in our own vision, when we focus on soemthing then the background IS blurred. It is very clever use of colour and tone, wonderful simplicity. A nice strong, simple statement.
Again I have a thing for a kind of organic feel. Tasty.
Simply stunning photography.
I just love this. Makes me want to go out for a walk right now, in the city.

Lets debunk few myths. Which is your favourite colour and why? How do you feel about pink colour especially it being used with everything girl?

Mmmm I think I like red. I tend to use a lot of red in my art but also brown is very indispensable and highly underrated. So maybe it's brown? Earthy, rustic, used in skin tones, the colour of chocolate and coffee. Yes, most definately brown!
Pink, well I have painted a few pink paintings- my son and my partner both wear pink shirts. I think they look great in pink!

What do you think needs to be done so women around the world would be able to stand on equal footing with men? Do you think we are equal? Why do you think when one talks about masters in art there are no women mentioned?

It's a difficult question to answer. It comes from a deep rooted oppression in many cultures and is going to be a difficult one to change. Some of these customs about the role/treatment of women have been in place for thousands of years, so I don't think we can anticipate any sudden or quick changes.
I mean I could go on for hours about the positives and the negatives of society and the treamement of women in general but it really is so rich in history and circumstance, and no easy solution.
Do I think we are equal? Well, it's fairly obvious that in certain sectors, no.We all know about the glass ceiling. Having said that, we have come a long way, where by women are now in positions of power and have been given the opportunity to participate in fields they would never have dreamed of 50 years ago. It's going to take a long time, until there is any sense of true equality. Because we have many generations of oppression to get over. It's steeped in out subconcious.
Artistically, I see myself as an equal. I have the ability to create whatever I desire. I'm not living in a situtaion where it's expected that I do the housework and that's it. Raise 10 children and be happy with my lot. I am a mother, I teach my son, I work everyday painting to make my living and support my son and give him a furture. I work damn hard and I am proud of everything I do and as a woman. Any failure to succeed is now firmly placed on my own shoulders and I will take full responsibility for my actions. And I am happy to be in this position.
There are plenty of women who believe that they aren't capable of making such choices due to inequality and suppression. But I have seen many instances of women breaking the mold and I think it's up to women to take a positive lead and push on through those barriers.
I certainly didn't get here easily. I've suffered all my life as a woman. I have been the victim of physical and mental abuse, stalking, bullying, riducule and oppression. But I never gave up.
"Why do you think when one talks about masters in art there are no women mentioned?"
I think this is a simple case of women's roles in history. If you look back through all the areas not only art, but politics and religion, women hardly get a mention. Very few women were given the opportunity to work outside of the home let alone be an artist. It was always very much a struggle and you need the time to commit to life of an artist.
Women's roles have traditionally been of the mother, the provider, the caretaker of the family . And of course it was just seen as luxuiorous for women to even consider picking up a paintbrush back in the day. We can't rewrite history. But we can write a new future for generations to come. I mean, more women are painting now than ever before so, it only stands to reason there will be a lot who make it into the history books and the balance will gradually level out to some extent.

Who is your favourite woman artist and why?

Mmm tough question. There are many I like for various reasons but I'm going to go out on a limb here, and have to say for her strength and conviction, Yoko Ono. ( I know most people can't stand her)
She has been vilified and taunted, hated despised and criticised. Simply for her love of a man the whole world made out to be a hero, an idol, a legend. And yet, HE loved her.
I love her music , her crazy singing - 'walking on thin ice' is one of my alltime favourite songs.
Most of all I love her conceptual art and installations. She has an inept ability to make profound statements with minimal visual cues. Very cool.





Happy International Women's Day Everyone