Artist Statement

Inspired by the various places and subjects I experience across Canada and afar, my current focus is the power of space in the northern landscape and animal portraiture.

As a western Canadian artist,  I am privileged to experience a variety of stunning landscapes and I find myself equally fascinated and haunted by vast prairies, sunlit forests, rugged mountains, and rocky ocean coastlines.  I seek every opportunity to immerse myself in these humbling spaces as they are the ultimate force of creativity.  This is, at once, a personal search for life balance and a means to translate landscape as a form of escape and source of solace, well-being and spiritual growth.  Quite simply, my paintings are a direct emotional response to the power of these spaces.

I am not particular about what landscape I paint, but am mostly drawn to the light, energy and feeling within these spaces.  I am also more concerned with conveying emotion rather than referencing a specific place and that is reflected in my painting titles.  My landscapes are generally devoid of human influence or presence so that the viewer can solitarily immerse him or herself in that space and get lost in that same moment.  Perhaps it will trigger a memory, create a connection to someone's current life or help others to see the everyday as beautiful as it is.  One of my favourite compositions in a landscape involves a journey.  One could argue it's a just a road, a path, a valley or even an opening in the forest’s canopy but it’s far more than that.  To me, it’s a portal or tunnel that takes us somewhere else in our own imagination. There is mystery and promise that somewhere beyond the view or just around the corner is something higher, something greater, and that is of great comfort and intrigue.

I began my career as a landscape painter in 2005 and quite serendipitously entered the animal realm after painting our family dog’s portrait ten years later. I absolutely love the challenge of connecting with animals through my work and it’s extremely gratifying to know that others feel the connection too.  Over my career, I have been seduced by an array of animal forms for their emotional and symbolic connections and, in all cases, my goal is to capture their spirit or “inner landscapes” through gaze and gesture.  As a result, my portraits are generally close-up, immersive and eye-to-eye.

But whether it’s a portrait, landscape, or even a floral, at the heart of each work is my sensitive observation, my emotional response to the subject before me and a deep passion for painting.  And regardless of subject matter, I consider the act of painting my opportunity to bring joy, hope and light to others.