Artist Statement
To every thing there is a season...
From a magnificent vista to sunlight on a leaf, to the texture of bark, my work focuses on the natural beauty I see around me every day. I have always observed with the artist’s eye, but translating my views to paper or canvas has brought me even closer to the natural world I have always connected with in various ways.
My subjects are my own experiences and my own interpretations. My paintings are a piece of my soul. Inspired by the work of the famous Group of Seven, in particular Thomson , Lismer, Jackson, and Varley, I strive not for photo realism, nor for abstraction, but rather for the essence or impression of what is seen and felt in the natural world. Working extensively on location, I strive to communicate what excites me in what I am experiencing.
I am inspired by the flow and unpredictability of watercolour and the individuality of the pigments and how they interact. This medium forces me to let go of control and to understand the behaviours of various pigments and how I can work with them toward a purpose.
Painting with oil has given me another mode of expression. Its buttery texture and the ability to manipulate the paint over a longer drying period gives me more opportunity to experiment and play with my ideas.
Because it is where I live and easily accessible to me, my work focuses on, but is not limited to, scenes in Saskatchewan. From streams and canola fields to rapids and rocky shores, this province provides me with a multitude of diverse scenes to paint. I see beauty in the chaos and the lifecycles of nature. A dead tree or a tangle of roots is beautiful to me. Seeing what was living returning to the earth reminds me that all things have their time and their purpose. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV)
My goal is to paint in every province (and hopefully territory) in the beautiful and rugged country of Canada. Working primarily in watercolour, but also in oils, I strive to paint with joy and calm while honouring clarity and composition so that my audience can experience the same. My paintings are intended as a message to the viewer where reading between the lines is only somewhat necessary.
I seldom leave the house without my paints in tow. I don’t want to miss one moment of opportunity when the shadows are amazing or the the light is just right. Sharing my sense of wonder with others gives me great pleasure and a purpose for my artistic pursuits.
