The Joy in the Act of Creating

What brings me the most joy in my art is the act of creating itself.

Some pieces have a repetitive rhythm that becomes almost hypnotic, and I love getting lost in that flow.

I’m equally energised by seeing how others experience my work — hearing their reactions never gets old and is something I can’t imagine tiring of.

Although my work isn’t representational, Tasmania constantly feeds my imagination. Even the smallest natural detail — a colour shift, a texture, the way elements arrange themselves — can spark a new direction.

The Power of a Gift

A few years ago, a psychologist encouraged me to tap into the creative side of my brain.

And, true to form, I couldn’t just dabble — that suggestion sparked a whole new artistic path.

Around the same time, a friend gifted me an old loom she’d found in a second hand shop.

Restoring it drew me into weaving, and from there I naturally wandered into other fibre based art forms.

That combination of curiosity, timing, and a nudge toward creativity is what set my artistic journey in motion.

Nurturing the Creative Muse

I nurture my creative muse by making space for creativity most days.

It doesn’t always mean being in the studio — sometimes it’s reading about art history or contemporary practice, and other times it’s simply walking and paying close attention to the shapes, colours and textures in nature.

I also doodle constantly; those small, playful marks often spark arrangement ideas that grow into new work.

Visit Exhibitions

Art is a way for me to keep learning, so I take every opportunity to visit exhibitions and experience the incredible variety of artistic expression.

Seeing how other artists communicate their ideas always leaves me energised and inspired.

Showing Up Matters

When I first began my art journey, I didn’t receive much advice because I kept my work hidden.

Only recently have I started stepping into spaces that feel new and sometimes uncomfortable.

Early on, though, I did read something that stayed with me: you find your artistic voice simply by showing up, trying things, and noticing what feels right.

That proved absolutely true for me.

Allowing Yourself Your Own Fit 

For a long time, I struggled with the idea of needing to ‘fit’ somewhere in the art world.

Now I’ve learned that not fitting neatly is actually part of my creative identity — and I’m completely at ease with that.

Creative Practice and Art Supplies

Practice consistently, embrace experimentation and learn from every attempt.

I’ve learned that building artistic skill really does come from practice — there’s a reason it’s called an art practice.

Letting go of the fear of ‘wasting’ materials was a turning point for me.

Once I stopped expecting every attempt to become a finished piece, everything opened up.

Now I sample, play and experiment freely.

Those small explorations often spark ideas, even if they don’t relate to the piece I’m working on at the time. They become a library of possibilities for future work.

Favourite Creative Quote

I read a quote and it really sums up how I feel about creativity. I don’t know who wrote it but it is simply perfect.

“Some thoughts only arrive through the hands. Not through journaling, talking or sitting quietly with them…..but through the particular friction of needle and yarn, of shuttle and warp, of fingers working through material that pushes back. Craft isn’t decoration for a life of ideas. For many of us, it is the thinking.”

About the Artist

Joyleene has a deep thirst for learning, and art has become the way she satisfies it — exploring culture, nature, geometry, and the playful space where order meets whimsy.

Coming to art later in life, after an established career, means she creates purely for the joy of it.

With no pressure to make a living from her work, her practice remains a space of curiosity, experimentation and delight.

After exploring a wide range of mediums, Joyleene has found her home in fibre, paper and watercolour, often incorporating repurposed fabrics and found objects.

Her two and three dimensional works express a rich interplay of shape, colour, texture and pattern.

With a snoozing whippet or two at her feet and the ocean framed in her studio window, Joyleene is happiest at one of her many looms, materials spread around her, following wherever the next idea leads

Be sure to follow the Joyleene on Instagram for her latest work, sources of inspiration and exhibition news.