48” x 36” Acrylic 2023

Artist Statement: “I make art based on personal experience of place. I’m intrigued with old growth forests, inspired by our surrounding Kootenay landscapes and drawn to capturing the glaciated terrain of the Rocky Mountains. My creative process begins with a journey of openness and gratitude. I am passionate about exploring wilderness areas with a child-like sense of awe and wonder while my outdoor painting kit waits patiently in my backpack. I let inspiration find me. It may be the reflected warmth found on the trunk of a cedar tree, fleeting sunlight cascading down the mountainside or local colour that grabs my attention. That’s when I’ll set up my pochade box to record those recognitions not found in a photograph that I can refer to back in the studio. I’m attracted to dynamic compositions with strong light sources. My aim is to follow the principles of realism while simplifying the scene and pushing the colours to create a pop or vibration. I want my paintings to sing with the energy I feel while immersed in nature. I aspire to stimulate a new found appreciation for our wild spaces and bring awareness to our fragile environments inspiring stewardship and human connection through art.”