The Learning Curve: Elizabeth Peddell

Today we bring you the story of one of the TBSSS and Creative City of Sydney Accessibility Scholarship recipients Elizabeth. She has been attending classes at TBSSS since Term 3, 2019. Elizabeth is blind and is hoping to sell her sculptures to raise money for her medical expenses. Today we share her story.

You’ve got quite an amazing story. Could you tell us a little bit about your background?

I was actually born sighted, spent most of my life with sight. I had huge dreams and a massive imagination to boot. I wanted to be the best game designer and 3D artist there ever was! I did a diploma in Digital and Interactive Games, and a Diploma of Digital Media Technology.

Unfortunately, because of my epilepsy, mixed with growing up away from civilisation on the sea and my drive to push myself in the bustle of Sydney, I overloaded my brain. This caused complications and I lost more of my vision but I didn't want to lose my dream.

Eventually I did lose my vision and I felt like I had lost everything. I was destroyed; I had a huge mental breakdown and landed in the psychiatric hospital for four months. In those four months I began to heal. I discovered that art isn't just for the sighted on a computer screen. I discovered that all my efforts had not gone to waste.

Because I had fought so hard before and learnt 3D modelling, I can now use those skills to model things and make them move in my head. Then I transfer that movement into stone, paper, clay - any type of material I can touch.

It’s clear that you’ve been creative for a long time. What makes art so important to you?

Art tells a story. It tells a story of hope, of suffering, of sadness, of happiness. All my art tells a story. The beauty of art is that it lives on long after you die. You are remembered through your art. With my art, I feel like I am not a failure after all, that I matter, that I will be remembered when I am gone.

Prior to carving stone at TBSSS, what kind of sculpture did you make?

I sculpted paper. I often sculpt paper when I am in hospital. All you need to sculpt paper is scissors, glue and colouring pencils. A lot of imagination helps as well and I have a lot of that!

How did you hear about TBSSS and end up at the Studio?

My psychologist found TBSSS. I had already given up, everyone I had tried, had turned me away saying being blind was too much of a hazard. They said they couldn't adjust to include me.

My psychologist found an accessibility scholarship offer from TBSSS and said I should give it a try. I was surprised when I was called for the interview, but didn't hold much hope. When I started talking to my teacher – Wendy Black in the interview, she got me straight away! She actually got me as an artist! I had never had anyone understand me on my level before and it was AWESOME!!!

You’ve mainly been working in soapstone. What kinds of sculptures have you created so far?

Yes I have completed a few sculptures so far. My first was an eagle; it had an Egyptian feel to it. It had its wings folded and its beak resting on its chest as it sat on a rock.

Then I sculpted a wolf howling in a forest with three trees in front of it. It had more of a spiritual feel to it. My third sculpture was a frog. The frog looks very much alive although it is made of stone. The message I was trying to convey with this one was that no matter what ails you, you are like the frog frozen in ice. You just need enough kindness and the right treatment and you will come back to life, just like the frog.

The fourth sculpture I did was a whale. This sculpture took a long time because I was in and out of hospital so much. The message I was trying to convey with the whale, is although they look huge and cumbersome, if you just watch and listen, they are mystical, magical and very elegant in the water. Don't let first impressions fool you. Look deeper to see the real magic happen.

The fifth and most recent sculpture I have just finished is a crocodile head. I sculpted just the top half of a crocodile’s head; it also has a huge chunk missing from the back, to suggest something has bitten into it. Yet when you see it, you admire its beauty, the amount of fine details, the colour, and the teeth. When you look at someone for who they are, you don't notice their physical flaws, you notice them.

I am selling the frog and the whale sculptures. I am selling the frog for $1,000 (update: now SOLD) and the whale for $1,800 (pictured). I am selling them, in the hope that I will raise money for my medical bills as unfortunately my health is failing me. I have been told the treatment that I require is urgent and I need to see two specialists and a neurosurgeon. The treatment is very expensive and the sale of these sculptures will assist me in buying necessary medications and paying specialist costs.

What’s your next project?

At the moment I am working on a dolphin leaping out of the water in front of a sunset. This one is made out of alabaster. This is the first time I’ve worked in alabaster.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

No matter what happens I am so grateful to come to TBSSS and take classes. You have given me something in life to hang onto *big hugs*.

If you are interested in purchasing Elizabeth’s Whale, please get in touch. Alternatively, if you would like to help Elizabeth with any financial assistance, we would love to hear from you. Phone 02 9565 4851 or email admin@tbsss.org.au.