Painting is my work, creating is my joy. In a world full of chaos and turmoil I never take for granted that I get to create most days. I paint in my cherished space, reflecting on the moments I feel a sense of place in the world. And with colour, movement and memory, I paint my way with a very full heart. The Crow The crow migrated into my art in both organic and symbolic ways. On the day of our father’s burial in the mountains of Maine, my large family gathered to honour him. While a bagpiper played in the distance, an equally large family of crows came and settled on the nearby trees. It was perfectly timed. The crows witnessed as we celebrated his life. I felt a connection to the crows that day. It gave me the notion to paint my family as crows. So I did. I painted and played and painted some more. A few months later, on the wintery sidewalks of Montreal, I almost slipped on an open magazine. I looked down and saw a photo of a crow half hidden by snow. I picked it up and kept it. It was then I decided to paint a crow in every one of my paintings as me. Now every crow is accounted for, representing mostly family, or myself as the storyteller. And that’s how the crow came to be.
Growing up in Montreal, my large and creative family made me the artist that I am. Both my father and maternal grandmother's artistic ways influenced me greatly. Whether it be crayons, paints, cardboard, or snow, I was always encouraged to create. I worked as a stained glass artisan in studios throughout the 70's, and early 80's in Montreal, Edmonton, and Vancouver. I was making works for commercial and private customers. Later on I found myself working on backdrops for small stage events, both in Rawdon and in Montreal, QC. This led me to work with children; creating wall murals and other special art projects as an art animator for the Montreal English School Board. As for painting, I have been doing so full time since 2002 and exhibiting in North America since. I’ve had the privilege of watching my paintings find homes by collectors throughout North America and worldwide. In the fall of 2017 I moved from Montreal to Vankleek Hill, ON, where I am continually inspired and supported by the landscape and community . I have donated many paintings to non-profit institutions across Canada, including: The Montreal Childrens Hospital, The Montreal Jewish General Hospital, Centre Greene, Union United Church, Wee Care, Halifax N.S. Art for Haiti and The Winchester Ontario General Hospital. I was a member of the Victoria Hall Gallery selection committee; 07, 08, 09. I’ve been on the board and a member of the Arbor Gallery in Vankleek Hill since 2019.
My art incorporates environmental concerns; I work with non toxic acrylics, and at the end of each session of painting, I scrape the paint off my pallet and add it to my ugly growing ball of paint. This practice keeps my left over paint out of our water system, and will one day get recycled. For every painting sold I plant a tree with Tree Canada. Founded Charlie’s Trees with my grandson Charlie, planting one tree at a time.
Exhibits
Arbor Gallery, Nov 2023, Vankleek Hill ON, Solo Show
Auburn Fine Art Gallery, May 2023 Gravenhurst, ON, Group Show
Auburn Fine Art Gallery, Sept 2022 Gravenhurst, ON, Solo Show
Arbor Gallery, Dec 2021 Vankleek Hill, ON, Group Show
Arbor Gallery , April 2021 Vankleek Hill, ON, Group Show Arbor Gallery, Nov, 2020 Vankleek Hill, ON, Two Person Show
The Auburn Fine Art Gallery Sept 2019 Granvenhurst Ontario Solo Show
The Auburn Fine Art Gallery June 2016 Gravenhurst Ontario Solo Show The Auburn Fine Art Gallery Aug 2014 Granvenhurst Ontario Solo Show
Victoria Hall Gallery Westmount, Quebec Library Collection Oct 2013
Insight Gallery Galiano Island B.C. Aug 2013 Sister Show