A year of Surprises and Awards! JUNE 2025

No-one could have been more surprised and thrilled than I was this last year. After being awarded an Excellence Award at the Goeje International Arts Festival where I represented Australia, more awards kept coming! 

I am not able to attend these award ceremonies and celebrations due to health and age constraints, but it is still mind blowing to know that my artworks represent me and have an affect on the judges and viewers. So many friends have been made, so many opportunities have evolved from these last couple of years! 

During covid lockdowns which completely depressed me, I became more interested in the emails I receive from overseas as a result of my participation in many exhibitions in support of the environment over recent years. And not being able to exhibit in Oz, due to galleries closing, opening nights being cancelled, shows postponed, I decided to put my energy towards the international art scene once again.

I have dabbled a little since Florence in 2007 and I know how easy it is to take the works to "Pack & Send" (yes, great service) and off to the world the works go... they are my children in a sense and have a life of their own! :)

The Australian Art scene was decimated by lockdowns, artists received no (or little) help from the government, the whole creative industries were in disarray. But strangely, the international scene was still full of opportunity and surprises. NAVA has info on this for those interested.

I encourage any artist that is inclined to get your art overseas and into international shows. It is fun, challenging, rewarding, and not that costly. It quite often costs more to enter an Australian Award by the time you add travel, accommodation, entry fees etc together.

You will make new friends, find new ideas, learn how BIG the art world is, how accepting and wonderful the judges and coordinators are. It isn't about sales, it is about representing Australia and getting your passion known.

Joy

Here are some of the overseas shows and awards from the last 12 months!

There are more details on my website 

During 2024 and 2025, I have made 2 desert treks, one the Oodnadatta Track and out to the Painted Desert and the second, back to Arkaroola and Mungo. My poor old body is letting me know that the years are passing, so to all of the people who wanted to come along with me, I apologise however I am no longer able to invite people into the desert on journeys of discovery. 

I realise now that I need to stay closer to home or travel slowly, however, I will be painting my beautiful arid lands that I love so much so I look forward to sharing those works with you as they evolve under the brush.

Joy