Background/Inspiration

As a child, arts and crafts were never my strong suit. English grammar was. And stickfigures were about all I could muster if I absolutely had to draw. It just didn't interest me much because, well...frankly I sucked at it. 

Fast forward to the late 1980s where I had the pleasure of working at the National Gallery of Canada for 10 years. Exposed to to a vast collection of beautiful works of art everyday, how could I not become inspired? I spent lots of time in the galleries, admiring the masters' works. And that's when I was moved to take some night classes and began to paint. Apart from that, I have not had formal training. I guess you could say I'm self taught, with a sprinkle of YouTube learnin'. Along with a smidgen of Bob Ross for good measure. ;)

My favourite scenes were winter landscapes, inspired by 19th century painter, Dutch/Canadian artist, Cornelius Kreighoff (from back in my National Gallery of Canada days). I continue to love painting winter scenes, and happily, I've also expanded my repertoire to include a variety of nature subjects.

I've been painting in oil for over 30 years now, but was only creating pieces sporadically when I first I began, while my children were growing up. And up til 2020, those paintings were usually gifted to family and friends, while holding a number of pieces back for my own enjoyment in my personal collection. 

My production increased significantly in autumn 2019 though, with a push coming from a close friend, urging me to get back into painting, which I had on many occasions told her that I had missed so much.  Since that time, I have worked at improving my overall skills, while expanding the content interest/base further. I have produced numerous pieces, selling works to clients in Canada as well  in the USA. 

Ultimately, my goald is to create a welcoming, easy to approach presence, and to offer nature lovers real and accessible art to enjoy in your personal spaces.

I'm inspired by nature - dramatic clouds, country scenes, birds, marshes, waterfalls, lakes, ocean sunsets, and the like  - composed from photographs I've taken, or from reference photos of others (with permission). 

 I paint in oil, on wood and canvas (stretched and board) because I love how oil handles and moves, the forgiveness it offers in the creation process, and the fun in mixing colours. I tried acrylic, but  found it just didn't hold the same appeal that oil does for me. 

With tongue in cheek, my stance on acrylics is: 

The good thing about acrylic is that it dries fast. And the negatve thing about acrylic is that it dries fast.
And so you have it. I prefer painting in oil. 

Creating a piece that represents a real experience for someone is very rewarding -  especially when someone else is moved and compelled to want to enjoy it in their own space / home. It's a humbling experience and privilege to be sure.

I live on a 300-acre farm that overlooks a river and  bay, with marshlands and fields of grazing cattle, including lots of great local scenery and wildlife to admire, photograph, and then share in the form of art. I'm grateful to be able to view all of this beauty, feeding my deep appreciation for nature and all its critters and scenes.

The region I live in is dotted with farms, quiet and scenic backroads and rolling countryside, providing a mass of inspiration. There are also a number of nature parks close by, with gorgeous locations to photograph and trails to walk, and capture the beauty for future reference. I do love me a dramatic sky, stunning sunsets (of which I have hundreds of photos), birds, other critters, and the beckoning paths that spur my creativity. I try to get out on a photo jaunt several times a month, in all seasons, to capture my surroundings and build a library of subject matter to use later, to interpret in oil so that others may appreciate them - hopefully as much as I do. 

On an afternoon jaunt, I may take hundreds of shaaats as I  explore colour, shapes, composition, and nature in general. This is all part of the creative process...to find real beauty, and transfer that to a work of art for others to enjoy.