About Me
Sometimes my breath catches in my throat and my eyes glisten.
It took an inner war to get to the peace that I feel when I look at my finished treasure. That’s where the Whimsical side comes from. It warms my heart and makes me smile.
So if it doesn’t make you gasp, I hope for a sweet smile.
BIO
Though I spent years in the corporate world, my childhood love for drawing and painting never left me.
Eventually I chose a creative life and moved to the beautiful Muskoka area.
I opened a porch shop called Country Stuff at my old farm house, built, and hand-painted furniture which was quite popular with cottagers and even sold some pieces to an Interior Designer in the town of Rosseau. I attended craft shows, and had a job as a specialty painter working on large renovation projects.
The truth is during this time, I was a single mom trying desperately to support my mother and twin girls.
Unfortunately, in 2001 I had to pivot.
The Gift of Transformation
I grew up in awe of my mother's incredible creativity. She possessed a rare gift; the ability to change the energy of a home with her hands and her heart.
She redecorated our house constantly - painting walls, recovering chairs, and weaving harmony into everything she touched.
Watching her taught me that art is never just visual. It is a vital force meant to cultivate joy and turn any space into a peaceful sanctuary.
The Why
In the midst of a household with a powerful angry disruptor, my mother stood tall, and I became a warrior protector. (I know this sounds dramatic, but it is a childhood memory)
I only realized recently that this was her motivator. Between moments of chaos, my mom was healing - herself and the home.
I believe those moments of chaos also prompted me to find healing in drawing, and my little trips. Many times I would hop on my bike, balancing pencils and a sketchbook; I would ride north of suburbia to the farmer’s fields. I recall laying in the grass sketching the long dark grasses and bits of blowing flowers.
I think this is why I now paint huge flowers full of energy, oozing sunshine, earth and air, flowing and morphing into beauty.
Back To The City
The internet was pretty new. I worked hard during my off hours. After figuring out how to build a website, I focused on my drawing skills and eventually built a pretty cool fantasy drawing online course. I drew dragons, warriors and the fae.
During these years I was working, and trying to take care of my mom who was dealing with the ravages of alzheimers. This was the most horrendous time of my life. Yes, I have had heart break. Who hasn't?
It's how we respond isn't it? This involved facing my mistakes, regrets, having a spiritual experience and changing a really bad habit. This helped me become progressively more aware and physically stronger.
The Last Decade
I was painting again, and selling my work regularly in small markets.
Where I am Now
Today I paint huge abstracted-impressionistic flowers. They swirl with energy and I really love the process. I have gritty pushed brush strokes along with huge swathes of rough colour that somehow settle and become a soothing blend. Sometimes I start with the rough shaky marks that turn into knotted tangled stems, or sometimes they go in at the end. All I know is that they simply must be there.
Yes, I paint big, I am a 5’10” woman. I am a Canadian with Scottish-Irish ancestors on one side and Norse on the other. Is there some ancestral memory? Isn’t that getting a bit over WOO?
I don’t know, but I have had a spiritual experience in my life that changed my outlook on everything, and in a great way. I became a better mom, grandma, dog owner and generally a person who loves deeply.
That’s where the Whimsical side comes from. It warms my heart and makes me smile.
I just want to get my art out there for you to see, what’s the point if others don’t get a catch in their throat, when they view my treasure.
The Collectors List
I have an email list, and I hope you do join me there. This will be the primary connection of my business.
I post any new work from my studio there first. By first, I mean before even posting on any socials or on the site.
I post for about a week before offering the individual painting to the public. This has worked very well for my serious collectors and for my business. I am always working on something new in my studio as I love the process of creating.
I also plan to offer early invitations to shows that I am attending, and/or presenting myself.
You can look forward to some looks behind the easel, and fun stories in the studio.
So see you in the studio soon.