My Journey - from Treechange to Artist

Listen as I share my own journey to becoming a full time artist and living the dream

From Tree Change to Full-Time Artist: My Journey

Hello, fellow art lovers! Today, I want to share a deeply personal story about my journey from making a tree change to becoming a full-time artist—a path filled with twists, turns, and a lot of learning. It’s a story of leaving behind the conventional work-life and diving headfirst into a passion for art that’s been simmering in me since childhood. If you're thinking about pursuing your dreams or considering a lifestyle shift, I hope this story will inspire you.

Early Life: Discovering Art

Art has always been a part of me. Like many, I loved it in school and took it up until Year 12. But after graduation, life took over. I didn’t attend art school, even though I wanted to. Instead, I jumped into the working world. My first job was as a face painter at Expo '88 in Brisbane, and while I loved the creativity, it was just the beginning of a long journey.

From there, I became a signwriter—a job that involved a lot of technical skills but limited creative freedom. For 27 years, my husband and I ran a signwriting business, and while it was fulfilling in many ways, the itch to create real art never left me.

Crafting and Experimentation

During my early adult life, especially when my kids were young, I dabbled in various crafts. I did paper tole, folk art, and decorative photo albums, and I even ran a market stall selling personalized house signs. Though these projects kept me creative, I still longed for something more.

I started taking classes here and there—starting with graphite drawing lessons where I learned a lot about values. I remember my teacher showing us to look for the light, medium and darks in an image and block those in first using a value scale for reference. It was such a valuable lesson.

From there, I moved on to oil painting with Marcel from Brisbane Painting Classes (now Bienarte), where I learned to capture life in my artwork and create more realism with colour.

Finding My True Medium: Soft Pastels

Everything changed when I took a class with David Wells, who introduced me to soft pastels and the right paper—sanded pastel paper. The difference it made was astounding. My first real pastel work, a dog portrait, made me fall in love with the medium. Suddenly, everything clicked, and I started creating large-scale pieces using pastels on Colorfix Original paper.

That led to my dingo series—a collection of large pastel paintings of dingoes, which quickly sold even before I finished them. One of my first, "Misunderstood," even won the Best Use of Media Award and sold for $2,400, which set the price for my large work.

The Tree Change

In the middle of all this, my husband and I made a big decision: we sold everything and bought a farm. The idea was to simplify life and focus more on the things we loved, for me—art. The condition I set for the move was that I would have a dedicated art studio, and luckily, the farm we bought had a perfect double garage that I claimed as my own.

At first, we tried farming—chickens, cattle, and even permaculture gardening. But after two years of battling bugs, droughts, and floods, I realized I needed to get back to my true passion—art. So, I left the farming life behind and began focusing entirely on painting and teaching.

Teaching and Growth

This shift allowed me to dive fully into my art. I became a member of the Maryborough Art Society and immersed myself in the local art world. Soon, I was asked to teach, which terrified me at first. As an introvert, teaching wasn’t something I ever imagined doing, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Teaching helped me improve my own skills tenfold, and the more I taught, the more my confidence grew.

I started doing workshops regularly and absolutely loved the experience. It was during this time that I began my online art membership, The Creative Barn, allowing me to reach artists all over Australia and the world who were returning to art later in life, just like me.

Art Retreats and Future Goals

One of the most exciting parts of my journey has been hosting art retreats. I took a chance and approached Gillian from Artable at the 2022 Pastel Expo, asking if I could host a retreat. Now, I’ve done two sold-out retreats at her venue in Tasmania, and we’re gearing up for the third next year. It’s been a dream come true to create these immersive art experiences, helping other artists find their footing just like I did.

Looking forward, I’m excited about my first solo exhibition in 2026, titled The Colours of Kgari, which will feature new dingo paintings alongside other works inspired by the rich natural tones of Fraser Island.

Lessons from My Journey

Reflecting on my journey from signwriting and crafts to becoming a full-time artist, I’ve learned that success doesn’t happen overnight. You have to be willing to take risks, follow your passion, and, most importantly, put in the work. If there’s one thing I’ve discovered, it’s that the more you practice, the better you’ll get. You don’t need to go to art school to make a living from your art—you just need dedication, and a willingness to learn and adapt.

For those of you dreaming of making a similar tree change or pursuing art more seriously, my biggest advice is to say yes to opportunities, keep learning, and don’t be afraid to take the plunge, no matter how scary it seems.

Thank you for joining me on this journey, and I hope my story inspires you to follow your own creative path.

If you're interested in learning more or joining me on my creative journey, check out my online membership, The Creative Barn, or sign up for one of my upcoming art retreats. You never know where your art could take you!

Happy drawing!

Kerri xx

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Categories: : artist, goals, motivation