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My Background
My Inspiration
My Inspiration
Reinventing myself after retirement led to the challenge of self-teaching myself how to paint...not recommended! Surprisingly though, sometimes when you are unencumbered by formal training, the magic of creating something artistic can be both astonishing and humbling. To me, pushing those boundaries can define and energize your personal growth.
I have been fortunate in successfully qualifying to become an Active Member in the Federation of Canadian Artists and hope to continue creating art that rises to the Federation’s standard of excellence. To continue the journey, I’m now working towards becoming an Associate Member of the Federation. Being successfully juried into seven separate exhibitions over a time period of less than four years earns the applicant, the Associate status. Having attained three of the seven, I have my work cut out for me! It’s like signing up for a 10K, you pretty much have to do the running, or, to complete the analogy, you pretty much have to keep painting at an increasingly higher level.
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My Inspiration
My Inspiration
My Inspiration
I have enjoyed hiking and climbing (in my young and foolish early years!), and many of my pieces are directly influenced by those adventures in nature. I love the majesty of huge mountains and alpine lakes and both have a special and emotional place in my spirit.
Interpreting the actual image into more of a dream vision is to me, the fun thing. Someone once said, “Reality in a scene or subject is sometimes only a guide to the image you see as an artist." Ultimately, what you have is an opportunity to create your own personal emotional reaction to what is before you.
If the observers of your art work see something individually and entirely different, that I believe, is really a measure of artistic success. Continuing to see new things or react in a different way to a given piece of art, is perhaps the best reward for the artist’s efforts. Sometimes a piece of art will simply grow on you over time, perhaps becoming like an old friend who is always there to smile and say hello. When that happens, I believe the artist has been successful in reaching for your soul.
My Medium
My Inspiration
My Medium
I typically use acrylics on canvass or birchwood panels for larger works. Experimenting with watercolours on small cards or printing with a carved Lino Block as a fun gift to friends, is also a rewarding way for me to reach out.
My style could best be described as “Abstract Realism” and has evolved into an attempt to portray those feelings into everyday images. Sometimes I wander off and lose track of where I thought I was going...but, that’s O.K.! Maybe that’s the real value of a tube of Gesso!
Every artist has failures and the key is to accept and learn from them even though, it takes a piece of your soul. But, how cool is it when the next one, or, maybe the one or two after that, gets hit out of the park?!
Really important to remember...you create art for yourself!