Ivan has been painting since he was 19. His journey began in the creative expression unit at Graylands Hospital while he was receiving mental health care. “The sta there were nice, and they encouraged me to explore art. That’s where it all started.”
Image: Western Australian resident Ivan with his artworks
“At one point I was living in a hostel for people who’d just come out of mental health hospitals. It was awful, and you have no sense of control in those places.” A turning point came when a worker referred him to the Housing Choices WA Independent Living Program, a mental health housing initiative funded by the WA Mental Health Commission. “Having my own place was life-changing—it was a new start.” Ivan has now been a Housing Choices tenant for around 24 years. A few years ago, he moved to a quieter home that better suits his needs. “This place I have now is really good,” he says. “I’ve been sober and independent for 25 years. My carers help me, but I’ve learned to clean and look after my home myself. I saved up to buy some nice things and furniture, and it feels good to look after it.” Most importantly, stable housing has helped him stay well. “Since I’ve been housed with Housing Choices, I’ve stayed out of hospital,” he says. He also reflects on what creating art means to him now. “I wasn’t privileged growing up, but my mum did the best she could,” he says. “When I was young, I had a $1 pack of textas or pencils—but I was happy. Now I’ve got the best quality paints and bring out the best quality for my art, and I can a ord nice mediums.” “In a way,” he says, “I’m catching up on a bit of childhood I lost out on with my art, and it brings me joy.”
What began as art therapy grew into something bigger. Ivan completed a Certificate III in Art Fundamentals at TAFE and continued in the art program for eight years. More than two decades on, he’s still painting—and still passionate. “I’ve never painted anything dull or grey or black,” he says. “I just want to have fun with my painting and show my imagination to other people. That’s what it’s about—creating things that bring joy.” Ivan’s work is bold and colourful, inspired by Van Gogh and Kandinsky— influences he channels into his own vibrant use of shape and colour. This year, one of his artworks, Cityscapes #2, is featured in the Housing Choices Annual Report. “This painting was a long experiment,” he explains. “I studied it for a while. I feel I have an IQ with colour and just used my imagination, and things popped out at me.” He named the piece in homage to an earlier artwork he displayed and sold at a Resident Art Showcase. For the past two years Ivan has participated in the Resident Art Showcase, sharing his work with residents, sta , and stakeholders. “Having somewhere to show my art makes me feel I’m worth something. It means a lot to me,” he says. For the past four years he has also attended regular art classes at DADAA (Disability in the Arts, Disadvantage in the Arts, Australia). Ivan has lived with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and experienced periods of homelessness from the age of 19. “I was in and out of hospital, and I fell into homelessness for a few years,” he says.
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024-25
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