Sally Bourke art dreams

The full-time artist, and mother of three, is a commercial success - she is represented by Adelaide's Hugo Michell Gallery.

Her art work is in demand, and she has a whopping 57,000 Instagram followers. 

Yet, Bourke measures her own success with a different gauge. 

"I already felt successful because I get to come here [her studio] every day," she said. "I get to do what I love doing and never wake up going 'I hate my job.'"

Bourke had been a "pure abstract painter" for about 15 years.

However, in 2012 following the death of a close friend and fellow artist everything changed.

"I had a really angry period with art," she said.

"I thought no-one understood what I was doing and no-one cared what I was doing."

Bourke decided she would from that time forward only make art for herself. She would ignore the idea of an audience for the work. 

It was through turning her back on "the formula" she had been taught at art school that she was able to find and develop her own artistic voice. 

"When my friend died, I just got majorly p***** off," she said. "I really did just stop caring.

"I just started painting my own stories, and painting the stories of those around me. 

"I decided I was going to give it everything I've got and that's what I do. 

"I started painting ideas about histories and how you inherit ways of doing things without questioning those things.

"That is the concept behind it. Stylistically, I think they are very much rooted in my abstract practice."

Bourke, who has also raised three children while pursing her career, said her dream was always to have a shed, paint, have a truck turn up to pick up her work and have gallery representation so she didn't have to deal with the business side of things. 

And it's a dream she has managed to achieve. 

See Sally Bourke's work on instagram: instagram.com/justondark