Access Arts Inc® - The Key to Success in the Arts

I have been painting with Access Arts for four years, attending the Brisbane Outsider Artists' group. While my main focus is painting, I have also enjoyed experimenting with some ceramic work in the past 12 months. I love to paint mainly with bright acrylic colours in symmetrical designs, and aim for a finished piece of artwork that's vibrant and uplifting to view.

Art plays a huge role for me in living with a mental illness. It provides me with a lot of enjoyment and pleasure, and can visibly lift my mood. It can also help me get through the really tough times - either as creative distraction, or as a means of putting my thoughts and feelings down on paper or canvas.

Art has made me a lot happier and given me a sense of achievement and satisfaction. It has also enabled me to work in a group and get a real feeling of belonging. There is a sentence I like in a book called 'Ride the Wild Tiger' that reads 'Life is like a wild tiger. You can either: lie down and let it lay its paw on your head, or sit on its back and ride it.' Art has definitely helped me choose the latter, as it gives me a greater feeling of control over my life.