About My Journey

A few years ago I was asked, ‘ What is my brand?’ Years into creating my stone carvings I didn’t fully who I was or what I stood for, all I knew is that I was uncomfortable in creating very feminine sculptures!

The female in all her emotive states became my trademark and the distinct curves and flow of my pieces were how people recognised my work.

In an attempt to understand myself more, I asked clients why they had purchased my work. The common theme was that my sculptures evoked a sense of calm, that they were mediative, inspiring, the stone tactile and that the ‘feminine’ nature was a thing of beauty.

As artists, we often don’t know why we create what we do, we are just drawn to do what we do, even if we are uncomfortable with the result. Being a sporty tomboy, these were certainly the feelings I had towards my very feminine sculptures and they often ended up under the table!

I certainly didn’t start out creating feminine sculptures, in fact my work was quite the opposite ! At university I was drawn to sketch the complex muscular physique of the male form and weld sheet steel or wrought iron forms! As a teenager I thought the feminine was weak, I steered clear of make up, skirts and ‘girly’ groups and always preferred to hang out with the boys! I became obsessed with multi sports and physical training, intrigued by our physical body and its potential.

However my physical fitness and strength became my shield and gave me what I later came to realise my only sense of confidence.

My adrenaline filled life of training, of working 24/7, of moving countries and always craving a new adventure was undoubtedly educational and fun, yet its fast paced energy became the very thing that later started to stifle my growth and my truth.

Thanks to physical ‘burn out’ after training an Americas Cup Team, I was finally led back to my art.

At first I was angry with my body and my inability to run the hills! I became trained in Pilates and yoga, softer ways of working with my body, yet I still felt frustrated with my weakness and fatigue. I asked many a doctor and holistic therapist for answers but pills were their only suggestions, which to me felt like a plaster to a deeper issue. It was a stranger I had met on the beach in Byron Bay who’s words ‘Treat your body like a child’ which became the medicine I needed and my art became my healing.

My inate nature, that of loving to be part of a team or community, my love of nurturing, of being a pacifist, of loving nature and craving to be immersed in her, of being eco-driven, of teaching and of wanting people to see the potential within themselves, these were the aspects of the feminine I was never going to repress- they were what motivated me in life. I had loved my work as an art teacher, a sports therapist and professional sports team trainer, a pilates and wellbeing coach, I always felt I was able to serve my community, albeit a little, but none the less, I felt was contributing. My inner critic thus felt guiltly when I chose to become a full time artist believing it was irresponsible, self indulgent and wasn’t serving anyone but myself! Yet I knew I had to slow down , fill my tank and get to know what my true self was asking of me.

Thanks to the comments from my clients, I am finally starting to realise that I am able to give through my work, that not only had my creations become my mirror, that they are also a mirror to others who wish to embrace these energies.

The feminine is not weak and it is an energy that is not exclusive to women, it is a universal quality that we all possess and it is an energy that is needed more of in the world today. It is calm, nurturing, it is collaboration and community, it is beauty both internal and external and it is our intuitive nature that chooses compassion & kindness above cruelty. In truth it requires more strength to fully embody her.

I have realised that my art has given me signs and messages along the way - it has been and continues to be a journey of discovery. I have grown to love my art and the feminine energy it possesses- the sassyness or softness, rawness or wildness. I feel the durable nature of the rock I carve from also represents the resilience and strength of the feminine - an aspect I hadn’t before associated with this energy.

“I feel so privileged to have one of your sculptures. She exudes personality and a sensual serenity. To me she is not just an ornament gathering dust, but a living breathing form. It is hard to walk past her without stopping and taking a breath or touching her to absorb her calm energy.”
Jon Dover , Retired Tree Surgeon East Sussex

I often wonder where my designs comes from, then the name comes to me and I realise where am on my journey! So where am I now ?… ‘Poised’ for the new adventure this year brings and I’m so excited … I will fill you in soon!

With love
Jo