Steve Mandy

The year was 1994. I found myself alone again. As horrible as splitting up is, there was a kind of excitement at the possibilities that lay ahead.

Whatever the cause, the result was that I had to find somewhere to live. The timing was good. I had just achieved a milestone in my career as a financial advisor that entitled me to a subsidized homeloan.

I can’t remember going to see a second property, although, I think I did because the estate agent insisted on it, but, the first flat I set eyes on was all I ever wanted. It was a double story flat in Glenwood, a nice leafy suburb at the time, the gardens were immaculate, but the selling point for me was the energy it exuded. I am not a great believer in things spiritual, but this flat had a positive disposition I couldn’t explain. It just fitted. One of the highlights for me was the fact there were two balconies. One off the lounge area and one off the master bedroom.

There was a second bedroom where my little girl, (only 3 at the time) could sleep. It was large enough, but, not too large. Clean and comfortable. It would become somewhere filled with story reading. She loved it. I loved it.

The previous owner was in the flat on the day I viewed it. A nice elderly lady who couldn’t manage the 3 flights of stairs any more. She had a print of a Picasso on the wall which I really loved. I asked her if I could borrow it and she agreed, happy to have sold the flat.

Shortly after I moved in I started painting that Picasso directly on the wall. Big. The size of the wall. I was expecting mediocrity or worse, but, as so often happens when you create, I surprised myself. I loved the painting. It worked. The whole personality of the flat changed with one painting. I was shocked. How come this ability had never shown itself before? Where did it come from. There are plenty of talented art teachers in Glenwood. I found Fiona Kirkwood. Expecting to be at the bottom of the class(a position I am familiar with) I found myself at the top.

My life was never the same.

I guess the talent had always been there—I just hadn’t given it a chance. In my early 40’s, I finally picked up a brush and discovered I was a painter. It was a revelation, a total game-changer. Leaving the world of financial planning suddenly felt less daunting because I knew that if I didn’t at least try to see if art had a future for me, I’d be left wondering what could have been for the rest of my life.