A Shared Sanctuary

Sue Ward is an emerging artist who took up art after retiring at 68. By working with ArtGang mentor Sue Loveday and undertaking self-learning on YouTube, Sue developed a passion for landscape painting. Focusing on natural environments allows Sue to express her connection to country through a life-long passion for bushwalking.

Sue's art practice is shaped by her experience of caring for a daughter who grew up with social and mental health challenges due to epilepsy and ADHD. More recently, she has stepped into a new role supporting her grandchild, who was born with significant health challenges and subsequent developmental delays.

Brisbane is lucky to have a number of wildlife reserves within the suburban expanse of the city. The Araucaria Track, which hugs the water's edge of Enoggera Reservoir, offers enticing glimpses of aquatic birdlife, freshwater turtles, and lace monitors that have found their sanctuary in the forest park. In this painting, I attempted to convey the sanctuary of stillness and peace that I shared with an Australasian Darter.