Darling Point:
History with the Eastern Suburbs
The Eastern Suburbs of Sydney holds a special place in my heart and was one of my old stomping grounds, particularly Darling Point. As a teen, it was a place to unwind in the park or stroll along the paths admiring the boats and Harbor Bridge. It’s a location rich with personal history, and recently, I had the chance to capture its beauty through plein air painting.
My connection to this area starts as far as I could remember visiting my biological dad as a kid and to my teenage years when I attended Cranbrook, a prestigious boarding school that ignited my artistic journey. Before Cranbrook, I survived a life-changing car accident, shattering my right leg that required extensive rehabilitation, metal plates, and rods. At the time I enrolled to Cranbrook, I was still in recovery, which made sports and physical activities challenging with my "peg leg". In a school known for its rugby, I felt outcast but found solace and expression in the Visual Arts program, often sketching in my dormitory.
Returning to the Eastern Suburbs with my new licensed artistic power, it felt like a full-circle moment. Painting “Darling Point” on-site was a personal reflection on how far I've come. As locals and passersby stopped to admire the work, I took great pride in sharing my history in Sydney and the journey that began right there in the Eastern Suburbs.
‘Darling Point’, Oil on Linen, 22“ x 30”
