I was fortunate to come from a family who encouraged me to paint, draw, build, and create from a very young age. I have had opportunity to paint in Oils, Acrylic, Watercolour and Gouache. Today my medium of preference is Acrylic due partly to being quick drying for painting en plein air, and also for it’s transparency.
I to paint outdoors using acrylic paint. The quick drying time allows me to capture the ever changing light and conditions of my surroundings. If the weather is bad I will paint in my studio from sketches and photographs taken during hikes as I spend as much time as possible outdoors all year round.
I need to bring the colours, shapes, and texture of my local forests, streams, and mountains inside with me – as this is where I find peace – and also where I feel the most alive.
Even when prefer the landscape seems still and peaceful there is movement of light, water, and wind, and the landscape and sky come alive.
My paintings remind me; I am in the right place; this is where I am meant to be.
Fun fact: I recently discovered that I have Prosopagnosia, (also called face blindness), this condition means I have difficulty recognizing people’s faces. I unconsciously adapted by focusing on details to help me recognize people: voice, gait, hair/eye colour, dress, names, – even tiny details like shape of ears would be committed to memory. The failure of this of course is when people change their hairstyle, remove their ballcaps, or are in an out of context location. After all there are many, many people who have similar grey-blue eyes with gold flecks around the iris…. Another coping mechanism I adopted is that I just pretend that I know everyone I encounter. I acknowledge people with a friendly wave, smile, and hello – this despite the fact that I am a natural introvert.
I graduated from Kwantlen Polytechnic University with a degree in Graphic Design, and followed that up with fine art classes in painting, drawing, sculpture and art history also from KPU. I have also had the opportunity to study under many local painters over the years.
