ABOUT ME
I am a self-taught visual artist.
From a young age, I drew: with pencil, charcoal, India ink, or pastel. I observed and interpreted the world around me. Like many young artists, I veered away from my passion so I could make a living. I explored may avenues, favouring those that allowed my creative nature.
Motivated by curiosity and the need to express a constantly evolving identity, I changed paths frequently. Intrigued by human behaviour, I studied linguistics and psychology. Looking for a profession that would feed my passion for continual personal development and my desire to contribute to society, I went into education. Always looking to feed hope in a concrete manner, I ended my teaching career as a mentor in vocational education.
When considering retirement, I knew it was time to come home, to art making.
My Art
Inspired by nature, I feel a deep connection to the cyclical nature of the world around me. I am fascinated by nature’s constant transformations, and the art I produce reflects this.
I am drawn by movement and texture, and I explore ways of conveying these elements in my work. To me, the Canadian landscape is a living, breathing element, adapting to a harsh climate by reflecting ever-changing colours and contrasts. Its resilience inspires me to embrace my own inner transformations.
My Process
Although I take way too many photographs, my work evolves intuitively. The images I capture are often a views of the changing landscape, but my paintings are much more selective. My work is more about the movement in a given place that a rendering of anything I observe. Waves, wind, snow drifts, the freezing and thawing cycles typical of our fall, winter, and spring, all are featured in my work.
I love textures, because I feel they help convey movement. When I work, I apply elements that will give texture to the painting. I often recycle paper, dryer sheets, cookie wrappers, and many other materials from the household. I sometimes incorporate collage, string or wire in my art. This first step guides my compositions, usually inspired from my favourite parts of the photographs I take.
I work primarily with acrylic paint, but also use ink and pen in my work. I love playing and experimenting with different materials. Initially I painted figuratively in oil, but my recent work is increasingly abstracted. As a fundamentally curious person, I am sure my work will always evolve.