My Biography...
Born in the Peace River country, in Northern Alberta, I spent my childhood immersed in horses, farming and the wildlife of Alberta. After pursuing a successful career as a Chartered Accountant, I rediscovered my childhood love of painting and fine art.
My art reflects my love for animals and the outdoors. I believe in the strong connection that humans share with all creatures and the relationship we have with nature. Growing up I learned to hunt alongside my dad, our expeditions a journey into the beauty and fragility of the forest and its creatures. As an avid competitor in Western riding, English riding and Dressage, I experienced the versatility, nobility and working ethics of the horse. I continue to reflect my deep love for these beautiful animals in my paintings. Training and competing with our German Shepherd Dog lets me express my passion for these intelligent animals. It is important that structure and breed characteristics be conveyed in my paintings. Painting animals is such a joy to me, as each stroke of the brush is my hand touching their fur and stroking them.
I was nine years old when I started taking art lessons and studied under a local artist until age eleven. After that period I experimented on my own and discovered photography as a “quick means” to art. During university, stress was relieved by drawing and one painting was completed. Almost twenty years later I decided to experience art again and started taking lessons at local art studios in Calgary. I have been privileged to study under extremely talented artists and continue to avail myself of their knowledge and experience.
Currently, I reside in Calgary sharing my life with my husband and a German Shepherd.
I am honoured to share with you the many images that I have painted. I hope that they touch you with the beauty of the subject, and the sense of awe they left me with.
My art reflects my love for animals and the outdoors. I believe in the strong connection that humans share with all creatures and the relationship we have with nature. Growing up I learned to hunt alongside my dad, our expeditions a journey into the beauty and fragility of the forest and its creatures. As an avid competitor in Western riding, English riding and Dressage, I experienced the versatility, nobility and working ethics of the horse. I continue to reflect my deep love for these beautiful animals in my paintings. Training and competing with our German Shepherd Dog lets me express my passion for these intelligent animals. It is important that structure and breed characteristics be conveyed in my paintings. Painting animals is such a joy to me, as each stroke of the brush is my hand touching their fur and stroking them.
I was nine years old when I started taking art lessons and studied under a local artist until age eleven. After that period I experimented on my own and discovered photography as a “quick means” to art. During university, stress was relieved by drawing and one painting was completed. Almost twenty years later I decided to experience art again and started taking lessons at local art studios in Calgary. I have been privileged to study under extremely talented artists and continue to avail myself of their knowledge and experience.
Currently, I reside in Calgary sharing my life with my husband and a German Shepherd.
I am honoured to share with you the many images that I have painted. I hope that they touch you with the beauty of the subject, and the sense of awe they left me with.
My Process...
I want to share with you my process. Being an avid art collector myself, I would like you to know what goes on behind the “art on the wall”.
Design:
My inspiration can be anything from a dream, a photo I took, a feeling I got when watching something, or colors. I take a LOT of photos and often use several photos for my reference. Other material is often gathered: bits of dog fur, a coyote hide, a chair, a dog collar, etc. Sometimes I am lucky and get a great photo that I can work off. I take my idea and do small sketches, laying out the mid, light and dark values, rearranging composition, assessing size. All the while I am checking to see if the final image feels right to me. To learn my subject I will concentrate on a particular species and do a number of paintings focusing on capturing the structure, and unique characteristics. To that end I have done series of paintings on Red Fox, Timber Wolf, Cougar, etc.
Drawing:
When I am happy with the design I commence my detailed drawings in either my sketch pad or on larger pieces of paper. This drawing can take days to complete as it is imperative that I have the proper relational values and anatomical correctness. I want my paintings to be better than the photograph which means I must understand the subject matter and when the photograph is lying to my eyes. The final drawing is then transferred to the canvas using tracing paper and chalk or graphite powder.
Painting:
Next I fine tune the drawing again on the canvas and when satisfied will start to quickly block in the colors using odorless thinner and oil paints. As I begin to build up I apply thicker applications of oil paint using a medium to help me get the consistency of application I desire.
My goal is to have each brush stroke count, the direction of stroke reflecting the direction of fur or muscle, the opacity or transparency of the paint helps to bring items forward or recede them into shadows.
Design:
My inspiration can be anything from a dream, a photo I took, a feeling I got when watching something, or colors. I take a LOT of photos and often use several photos for my reference. Other material is often gathered: bits of dog fur, a coyote hide, a chair, a dog collar, etc. Sometimes I am lucky and get a great photo that I can work off. I take my idea and do small sketches, laying out the mid, light and dark values, rearranging composition, assessing size. All the while I am checking to see if the final image feels right to me. To learn my subject I will concentrate on a particular species and do a number of paintings focusing on capturing the structure, and unique characteristics. To that end I have done series of paintings on Red Fox, Timber Wolf, Cougar, etc.
Drawing:
When I am happy with the design I commence my detailed drawings in either my sketch pad or on larger pieces of paper. This drawing can take days to complete as it is imperative that I have the proper relational values and anatomical correctness. I want my paintings to be better than the photograph which means I must understand the subject matter and when the photograph is lying to my eyes. The final drawing is then transferred to the canvas using tracing paper and chalk or graphite powder.
Painting:
Next I fine tune the drawing again on the canvas and when satisfied will start to quickly block in the colors using odorless thinner and oil paints. As I begin to build up I apply thicker applications of oil paint using a medium to help me get the consistency of application I desire.
My goal is to have each brush stroke count, the direction of stroke reflecting the direction of fur or muscle, the opacity or transparency of the paint helps to bring items forward or recede them into shadows.
