Maurice Charlie

I was born in Cairns and raised in Pormpuraaw since a baby. I have worked various jobs in Pormpuraaw doing Council work and for Flinders Shire Council doing machinery.

I like peace and quiet and painting which gives me joy. I like painting totems especially birds and the landscape. I like painting my bloodline of this country which connects me to my grandfather. I’ve always enjoyed painting since I was at school in Herberton but I didn’t like school. I liked learning from hunting, being with mu old people in the bush watching them make spears and I used to wish when I was a child looking at the landscape that I would one day be an artist and paint it all. I want to pass it onto my grandchildren. I have two granddaughters and two grandsons.  My favourite painter is Albert Namatjira.