Inspiration and resiliency
“My painting process doesn’t always flow instinctively and easily. Not at all. It’s been a struggle lately. This collection’s journey was filled with moments of challenge and growth. Battle mixed with triumph. And during the battle I was terrified all would be lost. But character is not wrought like iron, it is forged like steel.
And then the breakthrough moments showed me that it’s all those layers of imperfections beneath the surface that make the painting so beautiful. And beauty always rises if you’re resilient. It’s exactly what this Collection stands for and is mirror of this time in our history; together we are building resiliency from the ashes of adversity.
I have been building resiliency because of adversity for the better part of six years. Those of you that have been following my creative journey know that I’ve been a caregiver to two parents with different types of dementia. You can imagine the challenges and anxiety I have faced supporting them through their dementia journeys. What has brought me solace and calm in this time? It’s the things that bring the most joy. For me, it’s time with my family, a full fridge and MY ART! Just painting. Choosing a colour palette, thinking about colour, line, form, composition. Feeling my brush glide across the canvas. One solitary focus for my mind. Like a meditation.
Because of the contrast between the struggle process and the escape that painting process has been, it is no surprise that these paintings are so broody and moody but also so filled with hope and light. A moody palette with mixes of dark tones, earthy browns and subdued blues contrasted with pops of hopeful white. White being a colour of hope has been placed in the horizon representing what lies ahead for us. Textured gesso and etched molding paste create grooves for the paint to both sink down into and rise above in weathered layers and lend a complex and stormy feel to the overall painting. All of these qualities reflect this time of COVID in which we find ourselves.
I imagine these paintings in the places we have all spent more time than ever as a consequence of our voluntary isolation. Rooms we’ve come to know on a deeper level than ever before. Perhaps on your kitchen open shelving, a small painting, such as the 12x9 painting titled “STEADFAST”, tucked in beside the wooden cutting board and your favourite canisters, making a functional space more elegant. Or perhaps beside your favourite reading chair, where the lamp casts a glow on the wall and the 11x14 painting titled “HOPE”, reminding you that this time of COVID will soon pass. I envision the painting “DETERMINATION” above a bed, where so many of us now lounge a little longer than before, reflecting on this time of readjustment. For me personally, the biggest shift of where my family has spent time is at our dining room table, every night, like never before. It is there that my painting “FORTITUDE” would hang like a determined soldier at battle, holding the line.
My hope is that these paintings will bring you a sense of strength, solace and hope in your darker hours and a clearer awareness of what is important. May one of these paintings provide you a souvenir of the time you didn’t think you could but you most certainly did.”
“For me personally, the biggest shift of where my family has spent time, is at our dining room table, every night, like never before. It is there that my painting “FORTITUDE” would hang like a determined soldier at battle, holding the line.”