At 63, Sandra Cox now has time to reflect on her life and what her art has meant to her. Nearly 30 years ago she was confronted by a breast cancer diagnosis and needed to look beyond herself.
“I remember saying to myself ‘I can get through this.’ With the intensity of the treatment I needed something. I began with a few painting courses, in oil. All of this really helped at the time, but life resumed with work and children and it was busy.
“Later, with more time and a lifestyle move, I rediscovered my love of painting and developed more skills with the aid of my Coledale Community ‘Coffee’ Group. This group has morphed into something a little bigger but with my mentors, and in particular Lynne Lyons, we have travelled the journey together.”
Sandra comes from a family of creative people. Her mother played music (piano) and could turn her hand to anything. A milliner by trade, Sandra followed in the family footsteps initially in fabric painting, but a move to Karratha in Western Australia found her dabbling in pottery by hand-building and the wheel.
Upon retirement Sandra and her family returned to Coledale and joined the Coledale Community group and had a painting day. “Initially there were only four of us but it snowballed into a strong painting group and eventually moved to Austinmer Scout Hall.” Sandra says it was also a social outlet where they shared ideas, painting skills as well as their lives.
Sandra uses landscapes, floral influences and still life. “Different things I see, the environment, photos I take, all intertwined with memories. It becomes very personal for me.”
Generally Sandra uses acrylic paints. “I get greater satisfaction from using acrylics. Because of a lack of patience I like something to be finished and ‘done’. I put it aside and I add to, or take out.”
It may take Sandra a day, a week or three to four weeks to complete a painting. Each painting is different, the processes different and the time too.
Sandra’s experiences in Western Australia have influenced her floral paintings. “The flannel flowers, for example, with the red earth beneath were garnered from my travels, but also my fabric painting experiences. All my experiences morph together and combined with the use of light and dark it all falls into place.”
Sandra finds great happiness in seeing other people enjoy her work and finds it rewarding for others to want her works.
Painting remains a type of personal therapy for her. However, art remains the focus and marketing and exhibitions are the necessary by-product.
“Most recently we have set up a Pop-up Gallery in Thirroul ‘Artspace 2515’, where local artists can display.” Permanent artists there include Sandra Cox, Lynne Lyons and Judith Russo, who also runs the gallery.
Some of Sandra’s paintings are on display at Woonona Medical Centre. “I am also hoping for future group exhibitions. Often the joy is in the camaraderie of exhibitions and also a lack of pressure in the performance of it as well.”
Sandra has found a whole world inside herself for her work and undoubtedly offers inspiration for us all in overcoming obstacles and gaining new insights and skills.
Writer Janice Creenaune is a volunteer for the PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) Foundation. For more info, contact janicecreenaune@gmail.com
