About The Artist

The basics I am 38 years old. I have a partner, two boys 19 and 14 and a step-son 15. I work full-time as a table hand at a printing firm. I like reading Horror and 1800’s classics. Jane Eyre is my favourite book. My star sign is Taurus. I love all sorts of music. Photography and painting are my hobbies until I can sustain myself as an artist. I love driving through the countryside with no destination in mind. My greatest enemy is time. I never have enough of it. I smile, laugh and think too much. I am writing a book about my life called ‘Vera’. I have tattoos, a butterfly that covers my whole chest, a leopard head surrounded by a tree on my shoulder blade and a new one coming to cover up a mistake made a long time ago on my ankle. How did I become an artist? I became an artist in my late 20’s. At the time I worked as a behavioral management worker for people with disabilities. While on shift I was attacked by a client. I was diagnosed with post traumatic stress syndrome/major depression depending on which psych evaluation you read. After I got over the physical pain, one of my psychiatrists’ I was seeing gave me the advice that I should paint seeing as drawing was something that I have enjoyed since childhood. I hadn’t picked a pen up in many years let alone having to learn how to paint. I mentioned the idea to my psychologist who helped me to find the self-confidence I needed to actually put the idea into practice. Why did I become an artist? I had no other way of letting it out. When I paint I bleed. I let it all out without a word. After three and a half years of being lost in a medicated coma I needed something that was going to make me feel good. The doctors were giving me the all clear by this time even though I suffered some permanent damage. I wanted to live again on my own with no artificial control or doctors. Therapy for me has now been replaced with my own strength, understanding, paints and brushes. It has been about ten years since my fall into the abyss. I still suffer from depression but I have learnt to control it through knowing my illness and my art. I hope to inspire others to pick up a paintbrush and see what happens. www.vanessajane.com.au