A Touch of Whimsey

I began my Artistic endeavors in 1981 at Camosun College in Victoria where I studied for 2 years. Learning Perspective, composition, life drawing, & watercolors. 

In 1985, I took courses with 2 very different artists. First studying with well known Victoria botanical watercolour artist Bryony Wynne-Jones. Next Allan Mark Cross, who was the opposite, very loose, mostly Landscapes and old houses.

After I took some time to explore what I learned. I practiced daily.

My husband and I moved to Parksville in 2006. I took acrylic painting with Devon Featherstone, and Elissa Anthony a landscape artist whose style I admired. 

A few years ago, I developed and co-ordinated the free art program for seniors “Aging Artfully” and “Seniors Art Program. I taught classes at both Stanford Village in Parksville and The Gardens in Qualicum Beach, where I taught students with a range of disabilities including, blind and stroke victims, even some with dementia. Soon I had seven places to teach.  Articles about the programs were featured in the PQB News. We had to close the programs when Covid began. Today a couple of programs are still running via the MAC.

I am currently a member of OCAC, DECOSMOS and TOSH.

Covid brought isolation and a lack of social interaction. I started a group of seven ladies, we painted challenges all via internet. These social interactions though not in person satisfied our net for human contact. We chose the name “The Other Group of Seven”. We each challenged each other to paint things we didn’t paint and timelines varied on how long we had to paint the challenge. Today the group still continues but one challenge monthly. 

I have participated via the MAC’s in Exquisite Corpse Event since its inception. These three- artist-one-painting are revealed at a Gala Reception and prizes awarded. What a fun event! I gained some attention the first year with my head. I developed a semi abstract style of my own. It is in this style that I have a solo show at The MAC in September. Titled “Women’s Faces of the World, Abstracted”. I also have a banner in Parksville with one of my faces which received much attention 

Though my passion is painting flowers now-a-days, I will paint or teach any subject and I can paint in many different styles such as impressionist or abstract, watercolours, acrylics and multimedia.

Currently taking a break from Tueday painters so I can travel for longer periods. Recently while I was on vacation in Rarotonga I was invited to teach there at Gallery Tavioni, which I am giving some consideration.

I came to art later in life!

I worked as a teacher-librarian and French Immersion teacher in SD69. I also reviewed books, and taught future teacher-librarians at UBC. When I retired I thought I would write a book. But no! I took an art course and I was hooked!

My paintings are inspired by colourful rambling gardens and lush landscapes. I paint mostly in acrylic, and add torn paper, yarn and other, often recycled, embellishments.

 Lately, I have been experimenting with sewing art quilt “paintings”.

Many moons ago as I was planning what to do with my life after leaving high school in Edinburgh Scotland, I was torn between a career in dramatic art, the visual arts or speech therapy. In the end I listened to my father who believed that I was destined to wait tables if I followed the first two options!  I opted for speech therapy and earned my degree at Edinburgh University. 

I have never regretted that decision!  Speech and Language Pathology proved to be an absorbing and fascinating profession which actively engaged me for over 40 years; upon retirement I plucked up courage and enrolled in an art class with Bowser artist Elissa Anthony and for the past 7 years I have been guided by her teaching and mentorship and am discovering the challenges and joy of painting  with oils. The relationship between creativity and wellbeing has always interested me and surprisingly was an integral component of my career in speech and language pathology.

My retirement has been enriched by re-discovering painting and the mental and creative challenges it presents. I find the doing is often as important as the outcome as I paint! Equally stimulating and important are the wonderful fellow painters I meet along the way and being surrounded by the  beauty of Vancouver Island.