I've just turned 30 years young, whoopee! this is the best age ever. At 30 you're wise enough to know how to live pretty well, in a functional and happy way, but you're young enough to be carried away by the adventure of life with no worries or stress. I have a wonderful partner called Ben, who I'm excited to travel with soon. I have lots of amazing people in my life. I am blessed.

I'm a fine artist- a painter, from Sydney, Australia. For the last three years I've lived and worked in an artist warehouse in the inner city, with seven other adults, a 7 year old, a cat and a newborn baby named Sylvester. The place is called Join the Dots. It's been the centre of my life for a while, but I think I'm ready fora change.

I'm interested in many ideas, but at the moment I'm exploring the creation of cities. I find it fascinating that we build things around us which are a direct reflection on culture. I love art, film, music and life. I've been listening to a lot of 80's new wave music, punk and goth lately. Sisters of Mercy may be my favourite band. and the Gun Club. So good. I used to be a journalist, writing about environmental sustainability for a few online magazines. Then I decided I enjoyed painting more than writing, so I went and studied fine arts. Now I'm trying to make paintings. It's the best job ever.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

It's the best way to get to know people and places from their point of view, to really delve into a place you need to know things from the perspective of locals.

Interests

Activism, art, music, hiking, laughing, painting painting painting. I love literature, and every six months or so I explore a new genre of music. Afro beat at the moment, also punk, blues, trap or whatever takes my fancy until I get sick of it. I love cooking, making preserves and gardening. I like to have wild nights out and stay up until dawn, and I also like to tidy up my house and make it look nice, paint the walls, and make sauerkraut or preserved mushrooms. I also love making things out of ceramic- i've been making ceramic jewellery lately. I sometimes play guitar too, just for fun. I've been running a performance at festivals called Freaktastic Makeover, which is a dress up thing. That's fun. I'd like to work on some more collaborative art projects.

• cats
• arts
• culture
• humanities
• writing
• literature
• performing arts
• festivals
• cooking
• running
• clubbing
• gardening
• politics
• traveling
• painting
• drawing
• music
• guitar
• blues
• cycling
• hiking
• journalism

Music, Movies, and Books

I've already covered it a fair bit. Lately I've been reading the Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, which is a beautiful and sad novel about colonial rule in the Congo. Some of my favourite artists are Mark Bradford, El Lissitzky, Matthew Barney, and Fiona Hall. I love indigenous painting in Australia, it is so vibrant and expansive.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Start and successfully run a warehouse artist run space in Sydney, with my friends and co-directors, which has been going now for three years. What a ride.

Teach, Learn, Share

Things I know and can do.
- Write
- discuss politics, pop culture, art, music, and whatever
- make stupid jokes
- make preserves
- cook generally
- I can teach drawing, painting and construction classes, and the basic skills of fine arts practise.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I love cooking and I've very good at it, so i'd love to make you a meal. I'll also help with cleaning.
I'm good company and can hang out if you'd like to have some fun or go see some art exhibitions or go for a bike ride or whatever- or I'm happy to be scarce - depending on what the host wants.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Laos, Malaysia, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Sweden