I love the process of creating, of delving into the unknown, of being in the moment, intuitively letting go to create balance; to risk, to veil, to try again. I enjoy playfully contrasting opacity with transparency, dark with light with an emphasis on color, line and gesture.  In 2007 I went on a five-month family trip to Vietnam, Thailand, Australia and Europe, and enjoy integrating memories, techniques and emotions experienced on that voyage.

Although I am essentially self-taught, I have taken life drawing and painting classes on the North Shore of Vancouver with James Picard and oil and acrylic painting with Mike Svob and Suzanne Northcott through the Federation of Canadian Artists. More recently I discovered mixed media, first with Jeanne Krabbendam on Granville Island and then with Nurieh Mozaffari at the Silk Purse. In 2008 I joined a group of 4 other North Shore artists to form 5enses; we paint together, laugh, critique each other and exhibit.

In October 2010, I took an unforgettable 5-day workshop with Steven Aimone...and now I've reached a turning point and a new beginning!!

In July 2008 I attended a great 4-day workshop given by Suzanne Northcott in Whistler.  I had been inspired by Suzanne in previous classes and she continues to guide me, perhaps unknowingly, through my journey as an artist.

Nurieh Mozaffari has also been a mentor for me, in composition especially, and was a guiding force in the bringing together of myself and 4 other woman to form 5enses. Here we are taking a summer workshop in July 2009 at Catherine's studio where we come together regularly to paint, support, critique, and laugh.

When I'm not at Catherine Fields' studio with the other ladies, I cocoon in my own studio at home, using my smallish space to create, contemplate and dream!

In the spring of 2010, in amongst the North Shore Artists' Guild sales and recovering from the amazing 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, I participated in the U8 show at SOPA Fine Arts Gallery in Kelowna. This is an annual group show exhibiting artists from across North America and all the works are priced under $800. It was a great turnout and a worthwhile experience going out of my Vancouver box!

After an incredible summer of painting, and a great trip with Doug and the boys to the Yukon and Alaska, I was busy with two 5enses shows: one up in Whistler and the other at CityScape.

Then at the end of October, Catherine Fields and I went to Nanaimo to participate in an incredible workshop with Steven Aimone. We met a fascinating group of female artists from all over BC and were challenged to paint non-objectively from our guts with emotion! Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of the exercises Steven gave us and the fun we had!

Special thanks to Marg and Ben who housed and fed us and listened to us chatter into the night after our long days in the studio-workshop!!