JOEL’S JOURNEY – “Life threw me a curveball, not a bullet.”

Background

I first met Joel and his Mum, Tracey, in 2007 when my oldest son Jacob started at the same secondary school as Joel.

In June 2020 I again met with Joel, by then a 29-year-old who had experienced more than his share of ups and downs for someone so young. What I knew of his journey I found fascinating and inspired to translate it to canvas. My purpose in meeting Joel was to become better acquainted, understand his journey from his perspective, and build up the courage to ask his permission to paint his portrait.

Joel – no bullet

Joel commented to me that he had long been attracted to the military, and in 2011 he achieved one of his life goals by joining the Australian Defence Force in 2011 as a 19-year-old. In the Australian Army Joel became a rifleman in 7RAR in Adelaide and then in December 2013 was deployed to Afghanistan for 7 months.

Through my time talking with Joel his essential qualities, crucial to who Joel is, shone through. His sense of belonging, his love for his friends, his love for the outdoors especially the Australian outdoors, his love for his family, especially his wife, Elisa, (who Joel met whilst he was in Year 12) and at that time daughter Esme`. Joel now has a second daughter, Luna.

This sense of belonging was enhanced throughout his time in the ADF, through his friendship, dedication, and loyalty to his mates and to himself. The other important qualities Joel said he gained during his time in the ADF were his resilience, determination, and strength, both physical and mental. Joel’s appreciation and love of all those around him, his friends and family, has never wavered.

Joel – the curveball

Joel then told me, “Life threw me a curveball, not a bullet”, when on the 31^st of August 2014 he fell from a staircase in Adelaide, whilst out with his friends. The injuries Joel sustained were to his spinal cord which left him with a C5 incomplete quadriplegic.  What stood out most from my chat with Joel in 2020 was that his army training and experience put him in good stead to meet the challenges of life post injury. Together with his other strong attributes and incredible support from Elisa, Esme and Luna, his family and friends, Joel continues to make the most of life.

My Painting

In my painting “Joel’s Journey”, I depict how the Joel in the ADF in Afghanistan, helped and supported the Joel post August 2014, as he drew on his personal ability, determination, strength, and courage to tackle, fight and endure the trauma and complexities of his newfound life as a quadriplegic.

I have symbolized this in my painting by placing Joel’s hand from the painting of Joel in the Picture Frame, on the shoulder of the ADF Joel’s shoulder.

The Australian Gum leaves symbolizes the Australian bush and life that Joel loves so much while the cement ground and bricks depict the regimented life in the ADF and his time in Afghanistan. The rugged Afghan mountains have been included to depict the harshness, rawness, and depth of Joel’s life since being in the ADF.

The physical and mental training matched with his determination and never give up attitude is what I love about Joel and thus have depicted this in my painting of Joel and his Journey.

• DATE FINISHED :  June 2021 and Mountains added in May 2025.
• DIMENSIONS : (Height – 152 cm X Width – 91 cm)
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait
• FOR SALE: Gifted to Joel

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CARLOS – MY SPECIAL NEUROSURGEON

In June 2024 I found out I had a Basilar Tip Aneurism and was directed to a very talented neurosurgeon, Carlos. The times I sat in Carlos’ office I observed all the thank you cards he received from his patients that were grateful for everything he did for them. We are talking about saving lives.

I too was very grateful.

As a patient, I put my life in Carlos’ hands, but the difference with this surgeon, Carlos, is I put my life in his heart as well. The care and genuine way, concern, bedside manner, patience and skill Carlos exemplified within his profession cannot be underestimated and was very much appreciated.

I gave this painting to Carlos as a gift to thank him from the bottom of my heart (and brain) for everything he did for me.

I thanked Carlos with my skill in painting his portrait.

• DATE FINISHED :  November 2024
• DIMENSIONS : (Height – 61 cm X Width – 61 cm)
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait
• FOR SALE: Gifted to Carlos

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HARMONIOUS CURIOSITY – MONT MARTRE, PARIS

In May 2023, in Montmartre Paris, I walked past an accordionist playing happily to the crowds with his cat on his shoulder. This man was totally content in his special world oblivious to all around.  As I stood there and watched, I immediately saw and focused on a girl in the room behind, walking towards this man and his cat. This girl stood behind the accordionist and cat and curiously watched through the window. This image immediately caught my eye and thus I knew I had to paint this scene from that moment. Harmonious Curiosity was witnessed and thoroughly enjoyed.

• DATE FINISHED :  July 2023
• DIMENSIONS : (Height – 1202 cm X Width – 76 cm )
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait
• FOR SALE: $2000

THE H MAN – HARRY MOON

My brother-in-law, Harry Moon, suddenly passed away in September 2012.

I started this painting of Harry a year after he passed away but didn’t touch it until September 2021. This photo was taken in Cathy and Harry’s back yard in Brisbane, together with other professional photos taken on that day of the whole family which include their children Cate, David, and Emily.

I wanted to paint this painting of Harry, for my beautiful sister Cathy for her birthday on 27 November 2021. Cathy loved the painting and feels that Harry is watching her as she walks past it.

Harry was an integral part of our family and a devoted husband to Cathy and father to Cate, David, and Emily. My immediate family have a very special and strong connection to Harry and Cathy and their family, through living in Brisbane, sharing Godchildren and going to Italy together.

We all miss Harry very much, but I hope by painting Harry’s portrait, I have given life to the beautiful man that he was.

• DATE FINISHED :  October 2021
• DIMENSIONS : (Height – 50 cm X Width – 60 cm )
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait
• Gifted to my sister Cathy

NAWAB KAPUR SINGH (1697 – 1753)

I was commissioned in July 2021 by Gurinder Singh Virk, who asked me to paint his great, great, great grandfather sitting on a horse. I thought this was an interesting request and after a few conversations realized that Nawab Kapur Singh was a Sikh, a King, and the only reference I had was old photos that I could get off the internet and a large canvas print – all of paintings of Nawab from that time.

These comments are from Gurinder and explains why he commissioned this painting: “Nawab Kapur Singh Virk (Singhpuria) was one of the Greatest Sikh leaders in History. He was the founder of the Singhpuria Misl and Dal Khalsa. He was also the first Sikh King under whose leadership the Sikh rule grew manifold.

Being a direct descendant of Nawab Kapur Singh Ji I wanted to get a painting made for our house and was recommended to Di Leeder Artist for the same.”

I have thoroughly enjoyed completing this painting as I love painting horses and the regalia that Nawab and his horse are adorned with.

Thank you so much Gurinder, for commissioning me to paint Nawab Kapur Singh and his beautiful horse for you.  It has been an honor and privilege to paint.

• DATE FINISHED :  August 2021
• DIMENSIONS : (Height – 91 cm X Width – 61 cm )
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait
• Commissioned by Gurinder Singh Virk

CLIVE BRADBURY X 2

I was commissioned in February 2021 by my husband’s great niece, Zoe Bradbury, to paint 2 portraits of her grandfather Clive Bradbury. One of the paintings was for her and one for her grandmother, Pam who was Clive’s wife. Zoe called Clive, Pop, and the photo she gave me was at his second last or last birthday before he passed away.

The challenge for me painting these two paintings was to get them alike as best I could. The paintings are slightly different, but I like that.

Prior to sending Zoe the paintings, I sent her a photograph, and this is her comments: “Thank you so much Auntie Di, I love them.  It’s bought happy tears to my eyes seeing him displayed like that. I’s so happy.  Thank you so much.”

After Zoe received the paintings, she commented that the paintings were even better in person.

Pam received her painting the next day and Zoe said Pam cried when she walked through the door and saw it.

Thank you so much Zoe for commissioning me to paint Clive for you and your Grandmother Pam and giving me the challenge of painting 2 painting from Clive’s photo.

• DATE FINISHED :  August 2021
• DIMENSIONS : (Height – 45.5 cm X Width – 35.50 cm )
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas x 2
• GENRE : Portrait
• Commissioned

Joel’s Journey – “Life threw me a curveball, not a bullet.”

Background

I first met Joel and his Mum, Tracey, in 2007 when my oldest son Jacob started at the same secondary school as Joel.

In June 2020 I again met with Joel, by then a 29-year-old who had experienced more than his share of ups and downs for someone so young. What I knew of his journey I found fascinating and inspired to translate it to canvas. My purpose in meeting Joel was to become better acquainted, understand his journey from his perspective, and build up the courage to ask his permission to paint his portrait.

Joel – no bullet

Joel commented to me that he had long been attracted to the military, and in 2011 he achieved one of his life goals by joining the Australian Defence Force in 2011 as a 19-year-old.

Importantly, prior to that he met his now wife Elisa whilst he was in Year 12.

In the Australian Army Joel became a rifleman in 7RAR in Adelaide and then in December 2013 was deployed to Afghanistan for 7 months.

Through my time talking with Joel his essential qualities, crucial to who Joel is, shone through. His sense of belonging, his love for his friends, his love for the outdoors especially the Australian outdoors, his love for his family, especially his wife, Elisa, and new daughter Esme`.

This sense of belonging was enhanced throughout his time in the ADF, through his friendship, dedication, and loyalty to his mates and to himself. The other important qualities Joel said he gained during his time in the ADF were his resilience, determination, and strength, both physical and mental. Joel’s appreciation and love of all those around him, his friends and family has never wavered.

Joel – the curveball

Joel then told me, “Life threw me a curveball, not a bullet”, when on the 31^st of August 2014 he fell from a staircase in Adelaide, whilst out with his friends. The injuries Joel sustained were to his spinal cord which left him a C5 incomplete quadriplegic.

My Painting

What stood out most from my chat with Joel in 2020 was that his army training and experience put him in good stead to meet the challenges of life post injury. Together with his other strong attributes and incredible support from Elisa, and his family and friends, Joel continues to make the most of life.

In my painting “Joel’s Journey”, I depict how the Joel in the ADF in Afghanistan, has supported the Joel of today in his incredible achievements, symbolized by the hand on the shoulder.

The Australian Gum leaves symbolizes the Australian bush and life that Joel loves so much while the cement ground and bricks depict the regimented life in the ADF and his time in Afghanistan.

The physical and mental training matched with his determination and never give up attitude is what I love about Joel and thus have depicted this in my painting of Joel and his Journey.

• DATE FINISHED :  May 2021
• DIMENSIONS : (Height – 152 cm X Width – 91.00 cm )
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait
• STATUS : $5000

Portrait of Pat

Pat Cronin passed away in April 2016 as a result of a Coward Punch in Diamond Creek, Melbourne. Pat was in the same Class as my son James, at Whitefriars College but our connections with the Cronin Family surpasses that. Taylor, my second son was in the same year as Lucas, Pat’s older brother, and our family, together with 7 other families including the Cronin Family socialize, support each other in many ways, and the males of our group have father and son weekends every year.

Since Pat passed away, the Cronin Family started the Pat Cronin Foundation which honors Pat by providing an optimistic voice to awareness, education, and research about the coward punch. As friends of the Cronin Family, we all support this foundation whose focus is to stop the Coward Punch.

I had met Pat a few times but did not really know him but through our friendship with the Cronin’s and the journey the Cronin Family have taken since Pat passed away, I feel I have got to know Pat and the type of man he was. I have been wanting to paint a portrait of Pat for a few years now and fortunately the Pat Cronin Art Show at Montsalvat in Eltham has given me the perfect opportunity.

I love my portrait of Pat, as I can feel he is looking over to me with his beautiful, huge smile which puts a calm over me and lets me know he is still in our lives.

I hope and pray that when you look at this portrait of Pat, his image has the same effect on you.

• DATE FINISHED :  September 2020
• DIMENSIONS : (Height – 122.00 cm X Width – 91.00 cm )
• MEDIUM : House Paint and Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait
• STATUS : Gifted to the Cronin Family

ROB DOLAN – Local winemaker and gentleman.

Rob Dolan is a talented and experienced wine maker, founder and Managing Director of Rob Dolan Wines and a well-known identity in the Yarra Valley.
I chose to paint a portrait of Rob after getting to know him through membership of the “Huddle Club” (the Rob Dolan Wine Club). My husband Brian has played golf with Rob and we both enjoy his wines very much.
On every occasion I have met Rob he has been friendly, polite and engaging and struck me as an interesting person who has lived a full and colorful life.
Rob is very tall, and like his stature he is a bigger than life character and hence that is how I wanted to portray him in my painting. This painting for me, sums up Rob Dolan, an intelligent, genuine, congenial and fascinating individual who loves people, his life, and his wine.
Yours in art and wine.

•  DATE FINISHED :  May 2019
• DIMENSIONS : (Height – 122.00 cm X Width – 91.00 cm )
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait
• STATUS : Gifted to Rob Dolan

MICHAEL AS ROBIN

Michael, it is my privilege to be able to have painted this painting for you. When I decided to paint a painting for your 60th birthday I didn’t have any idea what to paint you and Steven and Naomi were no help at all. I came up with a blank but also a challenge. So where did I find my inspiration from? My photos. I went through all my years of photos from when you were on a Billy Cart to more recent ones. Then one photo stood out. One photo meant a lot to me personally and every time I would look at this photo of you, you would just put a huge smile on my dial.
Michael, when I paint from a photo, I love to paint in a way that brings the elements of the painting to life. As such, for me, I have painted you differently to your everyday personality, and this is when you dress up as characters for parties. For Jacob’s 18th birthday, you dressed up as Batman and you were the savior of everything that went wrong that night, especially the jumping castle. For my 50th birthday you dressed up as Robin (from Batman and Robin) and yet again this new personality developed and came out. Therefore, in this painting I have captured your personality and what came out on my 50th birthday party, – you are bold, happy, bright, colourful, powerful and in control, oh yeah and you have muscles. What I love most about this painting is your face and how you make me smile every time I look at you, here.
But this painting also shows the man Michael, a man who is very comfortable in his skin, a proud man, a contented man, a happy man and a man that loves life and loves dressing up. There are many things this painting does not show, it does not show how much you love your family and am a dedicated and loving father and grandfather, brother, and brother-in-law, and uncle, you love a beer or two, developing your home, helping people and you love your friends.
Michael, I hope you love this painting as much as I have loved painting you and getting to know you better. I love you so much and happy 60th Birthday.
Love your youngest sister, Di.
13 November 2018

• DATE FINISHED :  November 2018
• DIMENSIONS : (Height – 61.00 cm X Width – 51.00 cm )
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait
• STATUS : Gifted to Michael

PAUL – CAMPING IN THE BUSH

Paul, it is my privilege to be able to have painted this painting for you. When I decided to paint a painting for your 60th birthday I didn’t have a problem thinking of a topic to paint for you. Besides Janet, Erin and Martin and your siblings and their families all know what it is that gives you a lot of pleasure and makes you happy…. so, Camping came to mind. With the help of Janet, Erin and Martin, I was sent the perfect photo of you camping.
Paul, when I paint from a photo, I love to paint in a way that brings the elements of the painting to life. As such, for me, I have painted you as natural as you are, with your shorts, beanie and an axe behind your back and surrounded by all the things you love. You love the outdoors, the trees, cutting wood, the camp fire, the Billy, the flames and the warmth of the fire. This painting however does not show other elements that we all know you love about camping and that is the company of family and friends that you have when camping, the mate ship, and the comradely of having Martin, Tony and your friends with you.
So Paul, what I see in the photo and what I have painted is a man that is very comfortable in his skin, a proud man, a contented man, a happy man, and a man that twists his left foot so part of it of it is off the ground whilst the right foot is also slightly off the ground too. To sum you up here I see a man that loves life. Again Paul, this painting does not show how much you love four-wheel driving, red wine, a beer or two, holidaying, your dogs, creating, helping people and your family.
Paul, I hope you love this painting as much as I have loved painting you and getting to know you better. I love you so much and happy 60th Birthday.
Love your youngest sister, Di.
13 November 2018

• DATE FINISHED :  November 2018
• DIMENSIONS : (Height – 51.00 cm X Width – 61.00 cm )
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait
• STATUS : Gifted to Paul

SELF PORTRAIT – DI LEEDER AS A NINE YEAR OLD

When I was nine – he left, bags in hand and walked out.
He Left – my Mum, my 8 siblings and me.
Me, I was the youngest – 3 were married, whilst 6 still at home.
Our Home, Mum held tightly on to.
I was told – “I Love You”.
I asked – “Where are you going?”.
I was told – “You will find out one day”.
One day – a year later – on the beach.
On the beach – I was told “get over it”.
Get over it and on with it – our family did.
We got a golden Labrador named Christian (he didn’t want a dog).
As Catholics we went to Church each week, Easter and Christmas so special
Christmas trees – can’t wait, so much excitement cleaned our bedrooms and the house,
Then Mass at 8 am– ran home to presents with family, meals, laughter, love and life together
Best presents ever by Brother Peter, (number 4 in the family)
A yellow swing for Sue and I – hung in the garage and loved, swing, swing and swing.
Parties a many with friends and festoon lights.
Guy Fawkes nights, crackers and Catherine Wheels, spin, spin and spin.
Pets, many pets but most memorable were the Turtles….
Plants, Mum loved her plants, Bird of Paradise – gifts for my teachers.
Apples – we loved to eat.
Billiard table and Ping Pong playing many times with family and friends, balls, balls, and balls.
Friends – our home was open all night and all day, cricket, tennis, frisbee, Hopscotch.
Together – Mum and her nine always held hands and shared many kisses and cuddles.
Best Family Ever… I thank God for all I have…. I thank God for my family…..

I hope you loved taking in my……
SELF PORTRAIT of me at nine. Di Leeder Artist

•  DATE FINISHED :  July 2018
• DIMENSIONS : (Height – 91.00 cm X Width – 76.00 cm )
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait
• STATUS : Not for Sale

HARRY AND MADDYN BIRD

I thank you so much Brad, with commissioning me to paint your two beautiful and cheeky children in their 2016 Christmas gear as a 2017 Christmas surprise present for your wife Amanda.
It was a real privilege to paint Harry and Maddyn and I loved painting them as they made me smile every time I put brush to canvas.

Enjoy your time in Singapore and I hope that looking back at this painting will bring back memories of your years with your family in Melbourne and when Harry and Maddyn were young.

Thank you for having the faith in me to do your family justice and I look forward seeing your adventures in Singapore.
I thank you so much Brad, with commissioning me to paint your two beautiful and cheeky children in their 2016 Christmas gear as a 2017 Christmas surprise present for your wife Amanda.
It was a real privilege to paint Harry and Maddyn and I loved painting them as they made me smile every time I put brush to canvas.

Enjoy your time in Singapore and I hope that looking back at this painting will bring back memories of your years with your family in Melbourne and when Harry and Maddyn were young.

Thank you for having the faith in me to do your family justice and I look forward seeing your adventures in Singapore.

• DATE FINISHED :  November 2017
• DIMENSIONS : (Height – 76.00 cm X Width – 61.00 cm )
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait
• STATUS : Commissioned

JAMES AND TOM BRADY

My 3rd son James, has loved the NFL Patriots for years and for his 21st birthday, he requested a painting of himself with Tom Brady. This painting is the final product.

• DATE FINISHED :  November 2017
• DIMENSIONS : (Height – 102.00 cm X Width – 76.00 cm )
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait
• STATUS : Gifted to James for his 21st birthday

JACOB, REBECCA AND DANIEL YOUNG.

I was asked late July 2017 by Luke Harrington, if I could paint a portrait of Jacob, Rebecca and Daniel Young as a present for Daniel on his 21^st birthday. When I heard about the tragic loss of Jacob and how close the three siblings were, I was honored and touched to be asked to paint their portrait.

When I paint a portrait, I get to know every single part of the persons face, hair, expressions, and unique nooks and crannies that make them who they are.  Interestingly, I engage with them and have some sort of connection and get to know the subjects pretty well. To be honest, I like I get to know who I am painting and a bit about their story to be able to be true to them. I also try as best as I can, by the way I paint, to bring the subjects to life.

Daniel, I know nothing can ever bring Jacob back to your family but I hope I have been true to him and you all, with my painting of the three of you. Jacob, will always be watching over you all with his beautiful smile and loving face. I pray I have done you all and Jacob, justice.  Painted with love.

• DATE FINISHED :  August 2017
• DIMENSIONS : (Height – 51.00 cm X Width – 61.00 cm )
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait
• STATUS : Commissioned

JAMES AND KATRINA – BLISS

I was asked late 2016 by a friend of mine, Jarred,  to paint  his very special friend James and his wife Katrina, on their wedding day.  Jarred gave me a gorgeous photo and after painting from the photo I have another happy customer. His friends James and Katrina  loved the painting, and the gift I can give is making people happy, thus the reason I love painting so much.

•  DATE FINISHED : June 2017
• DIMENSIONS : (Height – 61.00 cm X Width – 50.80 cm )
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait
• STATUS : Commissioned

ADRIAN AND KATE

I was commissioned earlier this year by my beautiful niece in law Kate, to paint a painting of my nephew, Adrian,  and Kate for his 40^th birthday in June. 2017.

I was so honored to be asked and when I got the photo from Kate couldn’t wait to start.   I started on the 25^th of February 2017 and finished on the 26^th of May and 70 plus hours later finished their masterpiece. I love painting portraits as with every stroke of the brush I feel and get to know every part of my subjects face and skin and every unique part of their personality.

In this painting, I also loved painting the apple box and chicken wire which to me adds another two dimensions to the painting and to the subjects as a couple. Another dimension of Adrian came out when I painted his shorts pocket (and mobile phone in it), and hence had a few sniggers to myself.

Anyway, I hope they they remember the painting is my interpretation of the photo given to me by Kate and that they love the painting as much as I do.

• DATE FINISHED : May 2017
• DIMENSIONS : (Height – 61.00 cm X Width – 76.00 cm )
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait
• STATUS : Commissioned

POWERFUL LEGS

I have named this painting ‘Powerful Legs’ as I painted it from a photo of Evelyn and Chloe’s legs, hence the title. My sister Margaret took the photo of her two granddaughters whilst visiting them. I loved the photo when I saw it, the closeness of the two sisters sitting on the floor boards whilst the floor boards give the painting a fantastic backdrop. Evelyn and Chloe are my nephew Mark and his wife Toyama’s children.

• DATE FINISHED : September 2016
• DIMENSIONS : (Height – 41.00 cm X Width – 31.00 cm )
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait
• STATUS : SOLD

 FR NOEL KIERCE, O.CARM  (21 October 1935 – 9 May 2015).

It has been a true honor to paint Noel which I started in May 2016. I first met Noel in 2004 when my oldest son, Jacob Battista started at Whitefriars College. Since then, Jacob and his siblings, Taylor, James and Thomas who completed Year 12 in 2016, have all had a strong bond with Fr Kierce. Personally, my bond with Noel grew when I volunteered at the Whitefriars Canteen and also managed the Canteen on Wednesdays for two years. Noels favorite lunch was a vanilla slice and a meat pie, but the pie could not be too hot. When I paint a portrait I get to know every nook and cranny in my subject’s skin, their face and ears and every strand of their hair. Strangely but beautifully every stroke I paint opens up their personality and I develop a more intimate relationship with them. Painting Noel as I said has been an honor and a privilege and I have definitely got to know him more. The most challenging part of painting Noel was getting his eyes right, behind his glasses. Noel was probably looking at me until I captured him correctly. In my finished portrait of Noel, I see a happy, content and approachable man who has touched and warmed the lives of many students, staff, parents, colleagues and families. I love this painting and will miss his presence in my home but I hope and pray that this painting of Noel will unlock many special memories and bring him back to life for the onlooker, even for a short time. In my painting I feel that Noel is looking over us, with a smile, sending his love and support to all of us who have had the pleasure of knowing him in the Whitefriars’ Community and beyond. Enjoy!

•  DATE FINISHED :  August 2016
• DIMENSIONS : (Height – 76.20 cm X Width – 61.00 cm )
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait
• STATUS : Gift to Whitefriars College

HANNAH

Dear Hannah, in 2013 I was minding you and Zev while your mum was pregnant with Meira. Isaac was at school.
This day I took you to your ballet class and took a few photos. You were so pretty, gorgeous and confident and I loved seeing you at Ballet. I decided to paint this painting of you as the photo was gorgeous.
I have been painting this over the three years since and have decided to give it to you for your 8th birthday. Every time you walk in to our home and see the painting of you, I can see that you love it. Well my dear Hannah, this painting titled “Hannah” is now yours forever. I will miss seeing it on our wall but know you will take care of it.
You hold a special place in my heart.
Love your fantastic and great Aunty, Di.

• DATE FINISHED : November 2016
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait
• STATUS : Gifted to Hannah

CAITLIN AND DEC WOODS – WALKING TO SCHOOL

I was asked by Sean Woods during the middle of 2014 to paint this painting off a photo for Karen, his wife of their two children for Christmas that year. Karen had seen the photo that I had painted of my three boys walking to to the bus and loved it, hence she wanted a similar painting of her children.

• DATE FINISHED : December 2014
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait/Landscape
• STATUS : Commissioned

ANNIE – MY SIS – BLESS HER SOUL

I painted this painting of my beautiful sister Anne, after she asked me to paint a painting of her for her husband Evan, while she was well.  Anne had survived breast cancer but had secondaries in her esophagus and then passed away at 64 years of age with brain tumors in January 2015.  Anne was a practicing Catholic and hence the reason why I chose this painting of her, in a church at one of her son’s, Matthew’s, wedding in Bangalow, NSW.  Matthew now has the painting which is so beautiful.

• DATE FINISHED : October 2014
• DIMENSIONS : (Height – 76.20 cm X Width – 61.00 cm )
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait
• STATUS : Gift to my sister Annie and now her Son Matthew owns the paining

YANDOIT SERIES 1 OF 6 – VINCE GERVASONI

The late Vince Gervasoni was my fifth cousin on my mothers side. Mum used to take us to visit him and his sister Rene (deceased also)often since my 8 siblings and I were little kids. Vince and Yandoit have a special place in my heart and hence decided to paint this series of 6.Vince, his truck, the old well and especially the old homestead down the road from his home all have special and fond memories for me.

• DATE FINISHED : January 2014
• DIMENSIONS : (Height – 122.00 cm X Width – 76.00 cm )
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait
• STATUS : Sold
• AWARDS: 33rd Warrandyte Art Show 2017 – Highly Commended Prize – $100

BALINESE ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

Whilst in Bali, January 2012, I saw this artist in a temple painting on a canvas amongst all the other painting for sale around him. This photo really took my interest hence I thought I would paint it.

•  DATE FINISHED : August 2012
• DIMENSIONS : (Height – 42.00 cm X Width – 53.00 cm )
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait
• STATUS : For Sale

MY BRO TONY

I painted this portrait of my oldest brother Tony, who is larger than life, in his handyman attire after many days converting our old rat infested shed into my art studio. I spend many hours in my art studio in Warrandyte South and thank him ever time I walk into it to paint.   Tony would always wear his terry toweling bucket hat, overalls, and the flannelette shirt whilst working.

• DATE FINISHED :  August 2011
• DIMENSIONS : (Height – 101.00 cm X Width – 83.00 cm )
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait
• STATUS : Gift to my Brother Tony

LILA – MY SHORT MOTHER-IN-LAW (RIP)

This is the first portrait that I ever painted.  The painting is of my mother-in-law (bless her soul) Lila who was a gorgeous lady and loved me and my four boys, after her son Brian started dating me in 2004 and married me in 2006. Lila had spirit, fight,  stubbornness, honesty and loads of love which she shared with all of us.  This painting exhibits all of these qualities in her which I do miss…..

• DATE FINISHED :  August 2011
• DIMENSIONS : (Height – 53.00 cm X Width – 59.00 cm )
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait
• STATUS : Not for Sale

WALKING TO THE BUS- JAMES, JACOB AND TAYLOR

I took this photo of my three older sons walking to the bus stop in Warrandyte South on the first day of school in 2009. James was starting his first day of Year 7, Jacob his first day of Year 12 and Taylor his first day in Year 10.  I loved the photo and decided to paint a copy of it as it showed the three in conversation and the mannerisms that are them.

• DATE FINISHED :  August 2011
• DIMENSIONS : (Height – 55.00 cm X Width – 59.00 cm )
• MEDIUM : Oil on Canvas
• GENRE : Portrait/Landscape
• STATUS : Not for sale

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