Growing up, life as an artist was never my formal plan, however my desire to create has always been a light within me, manifesting at various times as sewing or building projects, stained glass, or just about anything DIY. Following completion of diplomas in Biology, B.Sc. and Education, B.Ed., a yearning to further exercise my creative side emerged, and in 2001, I found myself in front of a canvas, brush in hand, on the brink of what has now become a 19-year art career. This career has seen me through exhibitions in Toronto and New York, gallery representation from coast-to-coast, and most importantly has allowed me to share my work with collectors world-wide.
My paintings have appeared on the Home and Garden Television Network, Canadian House and Home Magazine, and have been commissioned for condominium lobbies, corporate board rooms, and hospitals. In 2017 I was honoured to be commissioned by the United Nations to create a painting and design certificates that were awarded to 197 countries in recognition of their contributions and efforts to reduce ozone-depleting substances, as part of the Montreal Protocol. The original painting used for the design now resides in the United Nations Environment headquarters in Nairobi.
I currently reside in Toronto with my husband and two boys, and spend most of my summers travelling the world, or in rural Ontario. The outdoors has always been a big part of my life, inspiring travel, exploration, and adventure. It is no mystery that my love of nature has been a big inspiration for my work...
Inspiration
Simplicity, Space, Light, Nature...
Simplicity, space, light, and nature are themes that continually inspire my work. For many years, my paintings were mostly based on landscape, sea, sky, and nature. In this body of work, gradual transitions between tones of natural palettes are achieved by a constant layering, washing and reworking process. Often in contrast to the softness and subtlety of my painting technique, the texture resulting from the use of plaster lends to the organic nature of the work as well as creates a distortion, as if the painting is veiled, or as often commented by observers, viewed behind old glass, or in motion. The plaster also adds a sculptural element to each piece; a dimension not typically found in painting.
2017 saw a significant shift in my work with the introduction of my Transformations series. While still embracing the qualities of simplicity and light that I value in my landscape and nature paintings, Transformations abandons structure for fluidity; form for the unrecognizable; and control for trust in the unpredictability of the painting process. I have carried through many of the qualities of my landscape paintings - subtlety, softness and transparency, but with a grounding quality - through to my abstract paintings, but with an added element of playfulness and spontaneity. I want the viewer to be inspired by the joy and freedom of the creative process when they see my work.
These days I allow my creative impulses to take me in any direction they wish, and creating has truly never been so enjoyable. It’s been a journey. I hope you will follow along…
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