Sherrie Lee Fox

Until 2005, I hadn't seriously picked up my pens and brushes since leaving Leeton High School in 1980. Back then, I was fortunate enought to receive the encouragement and tutoring of my art teacher, Mr T. Over the years, my career and other interests, such as raising my two beautiful girls - Lara and Taria, the Army, rifle shooting and snow skiing, demanded all my attention. My hectic lifestyle didn't allow for 'me time', which I now value immensely.

In 2005, I dragged out what was left of my artwork and materials, which had been cartered around from place-to-place - but hadn't seen the light of day for many years. I was surprised to discover some wonderful landscape watercolour paintings I had created in my youth.

Amongst all the old drawing paper, which had turned yellow with age, I found some felt tip ink drawings which had faded purple due to loss of pigment. I examined these designs with interest, reminiscing the turbulent times of my youth and recalling the somber mood I was in at the time of their creation. As crude as these drawings appeared, I was struck by their simplicity and beauty, and embarked upon bringing them back to life.

It didn't take me long to find the local art shop. I was amazed at the superior quality of the art materials available now. Especially the artist quality ink pens - a far cry from the felt tip pens from school I had to utilise. It was great to see that Winsor Newton watercolour paints were still available, and that paper was now acid free and not the wood based textile that suffers with age. I spent a fare bit of money updating my equipment - which should h