For those new to my website, I’d like to introduce myself, and share a little bit about my art journey from inside my studio. I’m lucky to live and create in beautiful Keewatin, Ontario, where the stunning landscapes of Lake of the Woods and the Boreal Forest all around me inspire my every brushstroke… but how did I get here?
My journey started when I was really young. In fact I can’t remember not drawing. I started Oil Painting when I was 14. Shortly after that I lost the vision in my left eye. I was devastated and worried it would happen to the other one. It gave me a sense of urgency to see as much as I possibly could, because nothing is a sure bet for tomorrow. I travelled for a long time on very little money, never taking a single sight for granted. While getting used to my new vision, I learned to rely on light and shadow to determine how far away things were. I attribute the way I capture light to this experience. It is only natural for me to pay attention to shadows and light in the world around me. This is why I wait until the light is right to paint. Things take more time, but in the long life of art, that doesn’t matter to me. My goal is quality, and truth.
Further along my journey I picked up skills by experimenting, attending workshops and retreats, reading, painting with others in new locations, studying light and having a great mentor and friend, Robert Genn. He was the most influential person in my art career. I loved painting on the floor of his studio, drawing with him in his boat, travelling and painting by ship, our laughter and conversations. I carry that precious time I spent with him close to my heart. His sense of humour about art and life and his love of painting was infectious.
I have an intense curiousity about what I see, and a craving to create. I love trying something new. To me, painting is a conversation, or a dance. It goes back and forth, honestly sometimes I don’t’ know how it will react and it surprises me! I love experimenting and trying something new. It never gets boring to me.
In the winter I love to paint for long hours in the studio, in the daylight hours as well as at night. I love painting in the evening. I feel like time doesn’t exist at all and it’s only me and the music and the art.
In the summer I paint in shorter bursts of time outside in nature, directly painting what I see in front of me. I like the adventure of discovering new parts of the lake, and the quick fresh brush strokes... The light and weather changes so fast and it’s a fun challenge. When it gets too cold for that I try to remember the sounds and smells of the lake and forest when I’m painting inside, using photos and memories I collected over the summer. And, when spring comes, it’s like I’m seeing green for the first time!
Being a full time artist has so many challenges...it’s never a steady paycheque, there’s no pension, benefits or sick days, I live painting to painting and try to juggle the many tasks of owning my own business. But, the biggest challenge is having confidence in my voice as an artist. Confidence in knowing that on those difficult days when there are failures, it's a good thing... it means I'm trying something new and pushing myself forward. Now I know that that nervous feeling before a brave moment means I am on the right path. My goal as an artist is to be true to my curiousity, to be brave in my brushstrokes and trust my instincts with every new painting...never settling for what’s worked before or what other people are doing, but focusing only on my unique voice as an artist, and following that wherever it takes me.
There are emotional ups and downs every month in a project based job like mine. But, I do know that this is what I am. I can’t imagine doing anything else with my days. And so, I feel the unfolding of each day to be good.. I am in control of my work, or so I think… when in reality it’s always the painting that sets my hours. If it’s going right, every song is a good song, every moment is a Friday night, everything looks beautiful and happy in the world, but if it’s not going right, it’s all I can think about. It robs my sleep, my health and my social life! Art is a demanding diva, as it should be. It never settles nor should it. Being an artist means pushing yourself, inventing and experimenting. It means being okay with working 60 hours a week and earning nothing when times are tough, but trusting in what you do. I have no control on the sale of my art, but I do have control about the quality of work I put out there, and so that is what I focus on. I love my job, and that means I will fight to keep it. It’s an unusual life, but an interesting and rewarding one and I can’t imagine another one for me.