Now, a little about me.
I was fortunate enough to be able to go to
France and Italy recently on an art tour, to see some of the great art
places of Europe. This tour was with a group of 25 high school students
.
Talk about fun! The students were a great group, enthusiastic, and non-complaining.
I was along as a "body" to fill a seat so that the tour could
go. Since I have traveled quite a lot, I think I was useful to the chaperones
in helping with directions. Even I was surprised how much French I could
remember from my grade 9 oral French class, and the moderate Spanish
that I know was helpful with the Italian.
We did get to Tuscany, Italy, a very popular place for tourists, so
some of my paintings are from that area, France, and of course, North
America.
I am a Canadian artist living in Mission, British Columbia (B.C.). I
was born in Edmonton, Alberta, the next state over from B.C. and was
painting as a child. Later, I took workshops and lessons when available,
in Oregon in the U.S.A., the Okanagan in B.C., and the Fraser Valley,
which is where I live. This valley is lush green valley between the
Cascade Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, close to Vancouver, B.C. In
this valley, everywhere that you look is a beautiful scene just waiting
to be painted. I never run out of ideas.
I graduate from the University of Alberta and also hold a degree in
music from Toronto, Ontario. I have been painting seriously since about
1974. Besides being a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists,
I belong to several art clubs, and am a life member of the Mission Artists
Association, in my home city.
I am a self-representing artist who paints every day, if possible. Painting,
to me, is like eating--if you don't do it every day, you get a gnawing
in your stomach. My works are original oils, original watercolours,
and original mixed media or collage. Some of my works are abstract.
Usually I work in my studio, but I like to work outdoors "plein
air" (out on location) too. I have works in private collections
in North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia.
My belief is that art is a gift and as such has to be used. To me, it
is a lifetime love. I'm sure that a lot of what I feel shows in my original
work. My paintings are always changing and evolving as I get new ideas.
I hope that you enjoy my site and art.
