Then

Raised in small town Ontario, it was normal to trudge to school in waist deep snow, and to come home when the street lights came on. Perhaps being born to parents who owned a Colour Your World paint store enthralled me to create. I would usually create by doodling, and I’d read my writing aloud to my makeshift classroom (my bedroom) of dolls and stuffed animals.

I've gravitated to watercolour painting over the years; I'm captivated by the motion of letting my hand take off and indulge in the freeness of the watercolour medium.

Now

It was through navigating a deep struggle when I fell back in love with myself—more about this shortly.

I relocated from Northern Alberta to Kaslo, British Columbia in September 2023. It was a risk. I had no concrete plan; my heart knows this is why it's worked out.

Here I've unexpectedly met my better half, Derek. I'm mesmerized by his witty intelligence. Though, I’m most at home when he lifts me up by his gentle love; it’s a feeling so intense it’s impossible to dream about.

I've fallen in love with life in the Kootenays, so much that I've fully immersed myself in it creatively, sourcing my wood canvases right in our own backyard.

It's impossible not to feel inspired here.

Falling back in love with myself

Life has rarely gone as planned. That's the beauty of it, right?

I’ve found myself spending less time planning and more time immersing myself in moments. Especially the small moments that others don’t see. The moments that make me a better person and the moments that inspire me to create. No timing is ever perfect per se but something felt perfectly imperfect about resigning from my equipment operating role and recovering from jaw surgery here. I did it. I took control of my life back before my pain could take me any further away from myself.

Next to falling in love with Derek, our two dogs, cats and chickens, the best thing I've ever done is trust my heart again. I'm elated to unleash what I've always known myself to be: a mountain-loving creative.

We all have delicate stories that deserve to be channelled into somethingness.

Get to know me a little bit more

When I'm not creating art:

I'm a full-time teller at the local credit union. I enjoy the community-minded aspects of my day job, and I'm also a homebody. My better half, Derek and I do our best to camp and fish as much as we can. On the more lax days we enjoy side-by-side rides in the backcountry. We could tour the same area every weekend and we'd never get tired of it—it's the wildly views!

If I'm not out and about in the wilderness, you'll find me at home with our two dogs, cats and chickens.

Preferred watercolour painting style:

There are countless watercolourists who have their niche and there are some who offer a little bit of everything.

I have a background in graphic design and photography, and I'm a self-taught artist. I've always had an eye for landscapes and whimsy, abstract-like subjects. I'm not one for perfection. If you're fond of unconventional, character-driven artwork, you'll get along great with my watercolour art.

How I prepare wood rounds as watercolour canvases:

Once the wood is sourced from fallen trees throughout our acreage, and cut into rounds I sand the rounds. Next I'll apply an opaque matte white gesso. I let the gesso dry for a couple of hours before I apply a cold press ground which acts like watercolour paper. (I've started making my own watercolour ground.) Then I paint!

How I price my artwork:

The most valuable thing we have is time. I'm a new artist (in a public sense), but what goes into my artwork is no different than artists past, present and future.

It's the effort and knowledge most won't see that brings life back into each piece. I'm not just walking around my backyard picking up scrap wood; scouting fallen trees with character that can be turned into art is no light task. Then the sanding, surface prep, and the watercolour process. Not to mention the materials. (Onlookers tend to forget about the materials!)

I recognize that I'm not creating for everyone. Every detail is handcrafted specifically for decor lovers who resonate with irregular contours and the intermingling of unusual colour harmonies.

Life goals (other than art):

I'm content with the unknown, but I've always found comfort in the idea of writing a book.