Artist’s Statement
Nature is wondrous and beautiful. It evokes emotion in me. My expressionistic painting style is inspired by nature, by its changing colors and light, its mood, its organic movement and composition. The physical landscape draws my eye away from the concrete world. It brings peace and a sense of calm and wonder. Nature is an art form. A windswept tree shaped by the harsh elements resembles a sculpture on the coast. Glacier waters in the mountains- formed by pulverized sediment over geologic time-turn the waters a brilliant turquoise. A carpet of bright green moss blankets trees and forest. The mix of pinks, oranges, and yellows from the morning or evening sun reflect calmly in the water. The rise and fall of the tides change colors at different times of the day and season. The fresh blooms of a magnolia tree bring hope and splendor. The peeling red bark of a Pacific Madrone reveals a newborn, smooth bright green layer beneath. I paint the beauty to capture its ephemerality and to bring the outside in, to be reminded every day how wondrous the natural world is.
I began with oil paints and embraced the style of impressionist painters. I took photographs from my adventures canoeing in Ontario, Canada, from exploring the backcountry landscapes of the Canadian Rockies and from my travels abroad to Australia and New Zealand. Later, inspired by expressionist painters such as the Canadian Group of Seven and Emily Carr, my style evolved to applying bright layers of acrylic paint to illustrate light and form of the physical landscape. I wanted a more vivid presence on canvas using sweeping ribbons of paint to depict movement, light and emotion, and exhibiting an organic-like fabric of the natural world. You will see this in my current series of paintings. I hope it helps you to feel the way that I do while creating it.
My Story
I am Canadian born and raised, I am a mother of three wonderful children. I am also a dedicated yogi, gardener and outdoor enthusiast. I dabbled in painting as early as 15 years of age incorporating it into school projects whenever possible. I have always been drawn to living close to nature or seeking it on my travels abroad. I spent my early years camping with my family, hiking and canoeing the lakes and rivers in Ontario or sailing the waters in Georgian Bay off Beausoleil Island. I traveled west after University to live in the Canadian Rockies and spent 17 years in Banff National park and Canmore, Alberta. I explored the backcountry and photographed inspirational vistas to later paint on canvas. These were more impressionistic in style with smaller brushstrokes as I was deeply inspired by the 19th century Impressionist movement.
In 2014, we moved to Bainbridge Island, Washington. Similar to the beautiful Canadian landscapes, Bainbridge Island and the Pacific Northwest inspire me with its natural, lush beauty and ocean views. Here, my painting style evolved into a more expressionistic style as shown in the current series, influenced more by my emotions and that which mother nature evokes, using bright undulating brushstrokes of color across the canvas. You will see works that are stormy or moody, bright and sunny or peaceful and still.