The Right Kind Of Influence
‘The Right Kind Of Influence’ - 2025, oil on canvas, 1676x1371mm
The Right Kind Of Influence.
Sometimes in life, you encounter a person who quietly sets your path without you even realizing it at the time. It’s only in hindsight that you see how pivotal those moments and people truly were.
I was lucky to have a high school teacher who embodied this. A teacher not just clocking in for the pay-check, but someone who genuinely loved teaching. Someone who had an uncanny ability to spot where a young person might thrive and then nudge them in that direction.
That teacher’s influence extended beyond the classroom. Years after finishing school, it became clear that the encouragement he gave me toward photography and the ocean were the catalyst for my creative life and my passion for the sea.
We’ve stayed in touch through the decades since I finished school. Over dinner one night, we talked about why so many teachers leave the profession in Australia. Among many reasons, the one that stood out was the lack of status and recognition society grants to those who dedicate themselves to teaching.
Driving home, I wondered how, as an artist, I might contribute something to assist teachers who truly deserve more respect and appreciation. This portrait is my response, a tribute to the teachers whose guidance has a positive impact on other people’s lives.
Now, let’s see where this portrait might find some attention…
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