Fiona Omeenyo

I’m a member of the Lockhart River Art Gang. We’re a group of young Aboriginal Artists from the east coast of Cape York in Far North Queensland. I mainly do paintings on canvas although sometimes I do printing and sculpture.
The paintings I’m painting now are about traditional family and everyday things. I still remember my home and country through my painting even though you don’t have many elders or family around you to tell you new stories. No matter where you go, you’re still carrying these stories and memories for a life-time.
I have four children, Franziska, Croyston, Ainsley and Waylon. I tell these stories about when I was little and it’s good for them to know. I tell them these stories so I don’t forget where they come from, and so that I can paint about them.
It gives me great ideas on what I will paint.
My painting is more landscape and it reminds me of when I used to draw on the dirt when we’d go fishing and camping.
When I left school and came back to Lockhart, Franzisca was born. I was like all the other mothers in Lockhart, stay home, no job, get bored. Until one day Rosie Lloyd came and asked me to work at the art room at the school. From there my life started gettng better. I thought to myself what the hell, I’m not going to waste my life sitting at home all the time. I’m going to get out and make a name for my family.
‘Til today, people like my painting and my family’s proud of me, proud of what I’m doing,and I’m proud of what I’m doing.
Sometimes when I’m bored do my best paintings.The feeling inside of me – I don’t know how to explain it – I just let that feeling take a hold of my hand, just put the paint on the canvas and start painting away. And when I’m painting I feel happy, just like someone’s standing next to me watching what I’m doing. Makes me feel strong.