I wanted to write a post about my latest pieces on the website. I had set myself an internal deadline to keep my creativity moving and evolving although the need to make always ensures that keeps going. As the winter draws in my mind is taken further a field. Most years growing up we would visit Brazil. This was to see my mums side of the family. I have amazing memories of those hot sunshine days, rhythmic sounds and birds of paradise (literally.)

What I’ve realised with a lot of my work, a lot a lot, is that I always harp back to this. Finally I’ve realised that it is because of my longing to connect with this part of my heritage (took me long enough to get there). My experiences in Brazil were amazing and I try and carry them close to me as they enriched my life so greatly, in so many ways and it only seems natural to carry these in physical forms which creates a sense of comfort. Its literally dotted all over my house, from tropical plants to electric colours. Do you notice the themes that run through your work and your life? Is there something you keep coming back to?

I wanted to put the photo below my mum shared a fear years ago. They don’t have many of them growing up and when I saw it, I just thought, WOW. Aside from seeing my cousins as absolute cuties. The backdrop of lush greens and yellow’d dirt tracks romanticises my experience. Every time I think of Brazil this photo takes me there .….even if it was before I was born. I thought about this image a lot during my latest work and will continue to do so.

A photo of my Mum and cousins in Brazil.

With that comes great pressure to convey what it is I feel. And to begin with I couldn’t make anything. So I drew and drew, simple still life, odd objects from around the room, remaining curious until I started to break through..I copied photos of Toucans and Macaws and broke them down to create my new imagery. Gradually this began to flow and so Tropicália was born.

Thanks for reading and sorry for any spelling mistakes. :)

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Tropicália for winter.