Inscape Tasmania

I have recently added a new title to my list of ongoing freelance gigs - Resident Artist at the Royal Hobart Hospital through the beautiful Inscape Tasmania program. I am a part of their meaningful Tribute project which links illustrators and visual artists with patients on the Acute Older Person's Ward.

Hard at work in the Arts & Music room on the ward.

Here's more about the program:

Inscape is a Hobart based non-profit organisation that supports artists to work in healthcare and other non-art settings, with the aim of promoting a sense of wellbeing for health care providers, patients and families. 

The Tribute Project: Through meaningful conversation our artists capture the memories and life of patients; providing a tribute to patients and visual cues that encourage greater connection between hospital staff, patients and families. The artworks provide staff with a way to recognise the person and their lives as well as to attend to necessary medical procedures. The patient and/or their families keep the artwork as a memento; and, with their permission, a copy of their artwork is exhibited in a public space at the hospital.

I spent time with each of the following patients and spoke with them about some of their favourite memories. Here are some of the tribute paintings I have created for patients at the RHH:

A piece for Susan, who loves reading, chocolates and other special things that are hinted at in this piece for her. I mix and match traditional or digital painting depending on the piece. This one is digital.

This piece for Clifford was painted in acrylics and based on this man's love for his pets and a lifetime of giving to others even when he had nothing for himself.

This painting was a special combination of dear memories, each represented in panels from her favourite cathedral in England. I also painted this one in acrylic as it suited her story more than a digital work.

This tribute piece was for a younger patient at the RHH who has traveled the world and explored different cultures on his own and with family. This one is a digital piece.

I am looking forward to meeting more amazing humans and hopefully giving them a small piece of joy during their various hospital encounters. Joining this team and hearing these stories has been one of the highlights of my freelance life. One older woman just couldn't believe that I was doing this just for her. I hope she felt as special as I did creating it for her.

More coming soon!