Artist Statement

This collection is a continuation of my love of Australian native birds. I started experimenting with the style (I call it 'Doodle Birds') a few years ago. It melds my love of abstract design and pattern with my desire to portray Australian birds in all their glory. Many of my pieces place the colourful, patterned bird against a plain white background to allow the bird to stand out. I have recently been playing around with other designs as well by adding backgrounds and more abstract imagery. All of my birds are created from my own photographs of birds taken in the wild in Southeast Queensland. My medium for this collection continues to be ink and alcohol pen on bristol board.

Biography

I am originally from the USA where I studied art history and painting in university. I have lived in Indianapolis, Washington DC, Seattle, central Japan, Brisbane and Toowoomba. I moved to Australia 18 years ago with most of those years in Toowoomba. I have an MA in linguistics and have taught English as a Second Language on three continents to students from all over the world. I have been an artist all my life experimenting with subject matter, medium, colour and surface to make life interesting and fulfilling. I can't imagine not creating. I have a wonderful husband and two children that are homeschooled. Art is a big part of all of our lives. I have been enjoying sharing my art with the public by having local exhibitions and being a part of local show such as Downlands. When I am not making art or educating my kids I love genealogy, writing historical fiction, learning the banjo, listening to music, reading, bird watching, drinking coffee and travelling.

Influences

I have had lots of different influences throughout my life as an artist including ancient Mexico, Japanese woodblock prints, historic symbolism and modern painters of the 20th century such as Miro, Kandinsky, Hundertwasser and Mucha. I am also very attracted to the artistic styles of Art Nouveau, Buddhist mandalas, art of the Silk Road and Post-Impressionism. More and more in my life I find myself influenced by my natural surroundings as well: landscape, bodies of water, plants and animals.

Exhibitions

Toowoomba Art Society family show "Cabinet of Curiosities: A Zekants Family Collection" - 2026 Various member shows at Toowoomba Art Society - 2025/2026 Downlands Art Show - 2025 Toowoomba Art Society solo show "Imagining Landscapes" - 2025 Downlands Art Show - 2024 Toowoomba Art Society exhibition "Drawn to Birds" - 2024 Downlands Art Show - 2023 Toowoomba Grammar Show - 2012 Oxygen Café - “Japan Illustrated”, Toowoomba, QLD, 2011 Creative Tanks, Firefly Café, MADE Gallery (group shows) – Toowoomba, QLD, 2011-2012 LAMP Gallery and other small venues, Indianapolis, IN, USA, 2000-2004 Primary Colors, and other group shows, Indianapolis, IN, USA, 2000-2003