About my journey so far:
Born and raised in a little town outside of Moncton, New Brunswick called Lakeburn (now called Dieppe), I have been drawing and painting ever since I can remember, beginning with drawing from images in an old set of red encyclopedias that we had in the house. While I was growing up, our family spent weekends and vacations camping along the beaches and rivers throughout the Atlantic Provinces, Quebec and Ontario. Dad, who was avid fly fisherman and Mom, who was born and raised on a farm in Quebec, loved to take walks and explore, so we were always out walking the beaches, rivers or forests picking berries, fishing, digging clams, camping...it was just part of our lives and the usual way we spent our time together.
When I was old enough to leave home I couldn't wait to get out of the maritimes because I thought the pace of life was too slow, the towns too small and that the grass had to be greener everywhere else. Now that I have explored other parts of the world and have a better sense of how fortunate I have been, those are exactly the things I cherish most. These memories continue to influence my work along with the process of gathering reference material, sketching or painting on location and creating the paintings in my studio.
When I was old enough to leave home I couldn't wait to get out of the maritimes because I thought the pace of life was too slow, the towns too small and that the grass had to be greener everywhere else. Now that I have explored other parts of the world and have a better sense of how fortunate I have been, those are exactly the things I cherish most. These memories continue to influence my work along with the process of gathering reference material, sketching or painting on location and creating the paintings in my studio.
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My newest series of work on canvas has evolved out of my continued interest in the natural landscape. I painted for years as a watercolorist before discovering liquid acrylics. The transition from watercolor to acrylic was seamless since many of the same techniques apply. My canvas is prepared with several coats of gesso with added mediums to build up a textured painting surface. After wetting the canvas, many washes of color are applied by pouring, spattering, rubbing and dry brushing as I progress toward completion using grand washes in the beginning and ending with smaller painterly strokes. I’ve recently added a palette knife to my toolbox for added texture.
My work has evolved from aspiring to create realism toward focusing on a more romantic construction of simple elements. I enjoy working where not every step is planned and controlled, exploring the impression of a landscape while inviting the viewer to share with me a pause in everyday things and the memories that it triggers in their own selves.
My work has evolved from aspiring to create realism toward focusing on a more romantic construction of simple elements. I enjoy working where not every step is planned and controlled, exploring the impression of a landscape while inviting the viewer to share with me a pause in everyday things and the memories that it triggers in their own selves.
About my paintings:
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