Workpower Bentley's Talented Artists

At Workpower Bentley, two talented Supported Employees, Lisa and Melissa, are making their mark with their remarkable artistic talents.

Melissa has been working at Workpower Bentley on Tuesdays and Thursdays for ten years. Outside of work, her guardian, Julia, has been a pivotal influence in Melissa's artistic journey. Melissa reflects, "I came into Julia's care when I was nine years old through the foster system. Julia encouraged me to draw and colour in, and I slowly improved over the years."

Melissa has a passion for wildlife, especially birds, which she expresses in her artwork. Melissa tells us that she is fond of taking pictures of birds, on which she does some research before starting each piece. She finds the research important to capture the unique aspects of each bird.

Melissa outlined that she creates her pieces out of passion and pure joy, but one of her proudest moments was selling her favourite piece, The Ink Magpie, within her art community. "I would like to sell my pictures down the line," she says, "but with the cost of living, some people may not be in a position to buy my art, which is understandable. I want to focus more on exhibitions and displaying them so that people can still enjoy them like I do."

Melissa’s Art

As for Lisa, her pieces are an expression of love for those closest to her.

Lisa has been working for an impressive twenty years at Workpower Bentley, from Monday to Thursday. Her artistic journey began two years ago when she started taking art classes at A Curious Colour Studio in O'Connor. Under the guidance of her Creative Arts Therapist, Zeb, Lisa has explored a variety of creative mediums.

"With guidance and encouragement, Lisa had an abundance of ideas and inspirations for making art," Zeb shared. "Her dedication to creating beautiful, playful, and love-filled work has resulted in an amazingly diverse range of creations."

Lisa's artwork often includes personal touches, such as her family members and her dog, Koda.

"My favourite picture is the one I did with Koda. It is hanging up at reception." Lisa said.

Explaining the concept behind the piece, Zeb said, "We took a photo of Lisa and Koda in the backyard, traced the image on a piece of glass, and then Lisa slowly and carefully painted the glass, building up the image in reverse."

Lisa's art collection also includes a touching portrait of herself and her Aunt. The piece was created using a 'paint by numbers' strategy.

"It was a big commitment as Lisa wanted to show her love and gratitude for all that her Aunty does for her," says Zeb.

Both Lisa and Melissa find joy and fulfilment in their art, and their stories highlight the importance of creativity as a form of expression and therapy. Their artwork pieces are creative symbols of their journeys.