ARTIST'S STATEMENT
The reflections and motion of water are what my eye is drawn towards -that fluid looseness, contrasting the solidity of the exposed Canadian Shield. The ancient exposed rocks feel deeply magical. Even as a child I thought of rocks as wise old friends, just as trees were ancient spirits. My paintings are my emotional response to the ancients among us.
My joy is when colour pushes and pulls the eye to notice details in the land. Fine specks of light against a dark forest, forward-pushing cliff face over a dark rock crevasse. And then grounding it all, the cool reflections of what is above, repeated in the shimmering water.
I begin with pleinair paintings on location, swift strokes of bold colour to capture the immediacy of that moment in nature. My brush strokes are bold and feisty, light and confident as I play with wet-on-wet watercolours. When things become too controlled, I allow a sprinkling of snow, water, or some small ‘snowballs’ to rest on the painting temporarily. The gradual melting takes me away from logic and control, washes in some loose details, highlights the parts of the composition that I want to bring to the viewer’s attention.
I work fast and playfully, letting things happen as they do, not trying to force the results. It’s an immediacy that cannot be recreated after the fact.
I work small and fast on location, and then back in the studio I recapture some of the information I imprinted, creating larger works in either watercolours or acrylics on panel.
My recent large watercolours are mounted on birch panel, protected with cold wax, up to 60 inches wide. I have been excited by the new scale and surface treatment, since glass always restricts the viewer from experiencing the tactile resonance of the paper surface. Naked and raw is best.
The reflections and motion of water are what my eye is drawn towards -that fluid looseness, contrasting the solidity of the exposed Canadian Shield. The ancient exposed rocks feel deeply magical. Even as a child I thought of rocks as wise old friends, just as trees were ancient spirits. My paintings are my emotional response to the ancients among us.
My joy is when colour pushes and pulls the eye to notice details in the land. Fine specks of light against a dark forest, forward-pushing cliff face over a dark rock crevasse. And then grounding it all, the cool reflections of what is above, repeated in the shimmering water.
I begin with pleinair paintings on location, swift strokes of bold colour to capture the immediacy of that moment in nature. My brush strokes are bold and feisty, light and confident as I play with wet-on-wet watercolours. When things become too controlled, I allow a sprinkling of snow, water, or some small ‘snowballs’ to rest on the painting temporarily. The gradual melting takes me away from logic and control, washes in some loose details, highlights the parts of the composition that I want to bring to the viewer’s attention.
I work fast and playfully, letting things happen as they do, not trying to force the results. It’s an immediacy that cannot be recreated after the fact.
I work small and fast on location, and then back in the studio I recapture some of the information I imprinted, creating larger works in either watercolours or acrylics on panel.
My recent large watercolours are mounted on birch panel, protected with cold wax, up to 60 inches wide. I have been excited by the new scale and surface treatment, since glass always restricts the viewer from experiencing the tactile resonance of the paper surface. Naked and raw is best.
Winter Series, 2021. Watercolours with snow.
Floral Images 2021
New Work, Autumn 2020. Watercolours
Georgian Bay Rocks. 2020
Labrador, 2019
Landscapes, 2019. $100-$250
Barron Canyon Landscapes, 2019. $200.
Landscapes, 2018. $200 each
Contoured Landscapes, 8"x10" to 16"x20" Watercolours, 2016. $200 each
Nudes: Watercolours, fall 2016. $250 each- ALL SOLD
All my favourite watercolours are also now available as printed cards. Glossy stock, with envelope. $6.00 each.
5 Days, 6 Women in Killarney. September, 2016. $250. each, unframed. 11x14"
Hartman Weekend Watercolours. August, 2016. $350.-$600. each
Bougainvillea, June, 2016. 22x32 SOLD
Winter Watercolours, Georgian Bay, 2015. $250. each
SOLD Spirit Trees.
Tree Series, 2012. Watercolours.
 SOLD 2 trees |
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Illustrations, Children's Meditation Book, 1998
This series was designed to be the illustrations for a children's book. The book is an introduction to meditation for children, to be used in the classroom or home.
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Various, 2002
I lived near a farm in downtown Toronto while my son was growing up. The animals made great sources of inspiration for whimsical paintings.
Goat. SOLD
 SOLD. Prints. $20.  The Tree of Knowledge, $20 prints |
Newborn Moose. SOLD
 Rooster, prints: $20. |
Wild Flower Portraits, 2010.
The following images are illustrations from a book of poetry and paintings of Ontario Wildflowers, called Hiker's Bouquet. This book can be purchased directly from this site. 24 pages, full colour. $20.00
 Queen Anne's Lace  Wintergreen  Purple Aster  Goldenrod  Cranesbill Flower  Milkweed |
 Blue Bead Lily  Devil's Paintbrush  Fireweed  Rose hip  Pitcher Plant  Lobelia |