Behind the Artwork is a Story
I tell stories through painting, photography, and multimedia. My goal is to deliver a message that is heartfelt, engaging, and inspiring. My favourite subjects are landscapes, people, homes, and themes.
I love the outdoors and get inspired by the reflections and shadows that exist in the woods or by the water. My story revolves around colours. My creative spirit thrives in the ever-changing skies and waters of Qualicum Beach, BC, where I live. Often, I photograph an object, catching my eye and then paint it to express myself.
Depending on the effect I want to express I approach my work with different mediums, subjects, colours, and mood. The work I create blends commercial influence with aesthetic expression, or sometimes another piece begs to be more gestural, with spirit, impulsive colour, breaking the rules of colour relationships.
At times my work is based on a theme. For example, I submit my work to the MultiFaith Calendar each year. As I explored creative possibilities in light of the theme, ‘Building Our Future Together,’ I was compelled to reflect deeply. How would you depict a hopeful future, in light of the past two years? As we move forward, I hope that my painting, ‘ A New Dream ’ will inspire hope for the future.
A New Dream has been selected for the cover of the calendar for 2023. SOLD. Prints available.
My Creative Process
Inspiration plays a key role in my artistic process. I keep my mind fine tuned by taking walks, listening to music, and meditating. It removes my worries of the day, and lets me concentrate on what I do. Colours trigger an emotional reaction in me. I seem to have a messy process when it comes to painting – both physically and mentally. When putting ideas together, I have to be quiet so I can think and let my right brain do its thing. In the end, it’s expression that matters, not the way I do it. It is my passion that drives me to pursue expression and gives meaning to my work.
Studio Painting
‘Golden Morning Mist‘
It was mid February and I was drawn to go to the beach at the Golden hour.
I shot the photo and when I began to create what I saw I decided to go with a happy colour instead of the solemn mood. This triptych was accepted into a show at the Federation Gallery in Vancouver. I was thrilled that a young couple who just moved from Chicago to Vancouver bought the Golden Morning Mist for their new home.
‘The Swan Dance‘
This was a fun ‘stepping outside the box’ painting for me.
I snapped a photo of a swan and I had already started a painting of a woman…from my imagination… and decided to reimpose the swan on top of the face. I gave myself permission to go for it and I was pleasantly surprised at the outcome.
So in my eyes the swan is definitely a female. The original has sold but prints are available.
Plein-Air Painting
It is my usual practice to take a picture and then paint it to bring it to life with motion. In recent years, I have grown increasingly fond of Plein-Air, or painting outdoors, which is both enjoyable and challenging. Changing from a photograph to plein air is like switching from a tricycle to a two-wheeler. In order to capture the fleeting light and rapid pace of the scene while chasing sunlight and shadow, snow, clouds, foliage, trees, fields, and water I need to quickly choose which details to paint from a 360-degree panoramic view.
‘Blowing in the Wind ‘
Painting outside in the wind at Blackie Spit in Crescent Beach was a real adventure. It was critical to capture the important details very quickly, as the clouds were moving so fast – like an action movie clipping along, and the real life colors were changing by the minute. My outdoor gear was wanting to lift off, as was my hat. Even the dead tree was leaning in the wind. This painting has been sold.
The ‘ Disappearing White Rock ‘ Art Project
The purpose of this project was to create, through local artists, an artistic record of the small cottage houses built around the city in the 1950s and earlier, which are now being replaced by modern housing. A number of artworks were created in mixed media and plein air. They were displayed at the White Rock Museum.
This painting was sold to the owners of the home.
Commissions & Testimonials
Private commission inquiries are most welcomed. As an artist, one of the most rewarding parts of my career is spending time with my clients and discussing their ideas. The creation process relies so heavily on one-on-one idea exchanges, and in fact it is an exchange of energy which forms an image from which I can work.
My latest Commission and Testimonial was ‘The Working River’ in 2021. I finished this shortly before we left White Rock BC and moved to Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island.
What? A river the colour of a dill pickle. Really?
‘ The Working River ‘
The Commission
Janine lives along the Fraser River in New Westminster. She contacted me asking if I would be interested in painting the Fraser River activity. She wanted to see tugboats, the Golden Ears mountains in the distance, and the Pattullo and Skytrain bridges. There are usually gulls, wind, and eagles in the painting. “I want it to look dynamic like there is movement in the water and sky. I need a sunny day and water that is more on the dill pickle green side for the painting.
My husband composed an ambient music piece to accompany me on this journey. Together, we created ‘The Working River’ with Janine’s input and patience. In the end, her trust in me was key.
I was always interested in the Fraser River because my maiden name is Fraser. It is pickle green because the river blooms of phytoplankton and can impart a blue, green, or milky colour to the water.
With a length of 850 miles, this mighty river is among the world’s greatest rivers. Starting in the mountains near Prince George, British Columbia, it soon flattens out and becomes placid below Hope, which has created some of the finest agricultural land in the world thanks to the silt it has carried from the British Columbia interior. A salmon fishery that stretches from late spring through late fall is one of the world’s greatest. approaches the Pacific Ocean, the mighty Fraser is dominated by ports, cranes, ocean shipping, towering bridges, railway tracks and the industrial sprawl that spreads all the way into Vancouver.
The Fraser is a tough river. It is always moving, always changing and can be very dangerous. It is such a muddy river it frightens the daylights out of people. They don’t know what’s below the surface. It’s scary. You don’t go swimming in the Fraser.
But the Fraser is also a symbol of life. It feeds life. It’s a historical river – a heritage river – that allowed First Nations to survive and prosper along its banks.
The Testimonial
Sherron, it was such a pleasure to work with you on the painting I commissioned of the activity in the Fraser River in New Westminster. Throughout the process you offered options for size and shape, colour and composition. I knew you wanted me to love the painting in my room and for it to represent what I saw in the river. I appreciate the frequent drawings and photographic drafts. When I saw how the work was progressing I was happy to let you take control and express your artistry. I am delighted with the finished painting. It represents the working river in New Westminster, it looks gorgeous in my home and it makes me smile every time I look at it.
It was so fun to meet you and Ron again and I appreciated his efforts with the ambient river music. It sets the scene for my painting. Let’s keep in touch!
Janine
