Artist Statement

Expressive mark-making, colour, texture and light all play a powerful role in my art.  I favour encaustic for its unpredictable and mysterious nature and oil for its buttery texture and juicy strokes. Using a layered approach, I add further richness and content to my work using oil sticks, charcoal, pastels, inks, metallic leaf and fresco.  In regards to encaustic, while the act of painting with molten wax and an open flame is already a wondrous experience in and of itself, its luminous and tactile nature is most intriguing to me. Letting go and allowing this ancient medium to serendipitously paint itself during the fusing process is one of my most exciting studio moments as is excavating into previous layers to reveal what lies below.

A distinguishing feature in my contemporary encaustic work is its dance with abstraction and representation, inviting viewers to savour and linger over the surface. Up close, the work is abstract, alive with sumptuous textures and colours. Step back and the imagery is revealed, filled with emotion and pulsating with energy and light. This imagery is inspired by the various places and subjects I experience across Canada, with my current focus being 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.  These outings are, 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 a space. 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 that 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 love connecting with animals through my work and it’s extremely gratifying to know that others feel this connection too.  Over my career, I have painted an array of animal forms for their emotional and symbolic ties 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.

Whatever the subject, at the heart of each work is my sensitive observation, my emotional response to the forms 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.