Early life:

Born in Montreal, raised in St-Lambert, I have also lived in Sherbrooke, Montreal, Lyon (France) and Ottawa. Both French and English were languages spoken at home and throughout my education. I witnessed my mother’s creativity in her love of art and what appeared to be a fearless interest in developing different skills. My father’s passion, outside of his profession, was for music. My parents’ obvious enjoyment of the arts was a strong influence.

During my career:

Always present in me was an appreciation for the creative spirit and for the ability others displayed, whether it be talent to play an instrument, sing, write, paint, dance…  As a teacher in French Immersion and Special Education in Montreal and Ottawa, I had the pleasure of assisting and observing as the children learned new skills. Their creations -drawings, stories, paintings, acting and writing- were always fascinating to me. I felt it a privilege to see each child’s creative style, interests and personality. My interest in art was rekindled in the early 1990s when I had my own daughters, as I wished to be able to teach them skills of their own. Around the year 2000, I signed up for my first art class. Acrylic was the medium chosen. Starting with small goals, often feeling like a child learning to write, I approached this adventure with apprehension and an open mind.

Now:

Having pursued this interest in art periodically over the years, I continue to attend classes and workshops, broadening my interests and acquiring new skills that I can apply to painting. I have been particularly influenced, while attending the numerous classes, by the teachers’ skills as well as those skills of my artist classmates. I presently paint with oils: landscapes, street scenes and still life are my preferences…for now. I feel that certain colour palettes are soothing and I tend to lean toward my favourite colours with my work. It needs to look right to me. I appreciate all of the teachers that I have learned from on this journey. Each has guided me out of my comfort zone and helped me build confidence along the way. I am grateful to have had these opportunities to branch out, remain motivated and encouraged artistically by my teachers during this period of return to art. Following the encouragement of an artist classmate, I registered for the Certificate Program at the Ottawa School of Art in Orleans. Staff have been a wonderful support and guidance during this new adventure. I have since completed the Arts Fundamentals Certificate Program and I am thoroughly enjoying broadening my interests and developing new skills. Artists that continue to inspire me are: Alfred Sisley, Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, John Singer Sargent, Joaquin Sorolla, James W.Morrice, Clarence Gagnon, Raynald Leclerc, TomThomson, Helen McNicoll…Also, inspiring and exciting to me are viewing exhibits at home and abroad.

ARTIST STATEMENT

The decisions that I make pertaining to a particular piece depend on the feelings that I experienced when I was initially exposed to that scene or image.  Although I enjoy using varied media such as charcoal, pastels, watercolour or acrylic, oil is my preferred medium.  It is a medium that allows me to have a creative process that I can come back to, continuing the process at another moment.  Working with oils allows me the pleasure of working with rich textures, creating colours, varying brush strokes and maintaining some fluidity with the process of creating.

While completing the Arts Fundamentals Certificate Program, one learns various techniques used by Old Masters as well as more contemporary artists.  I have greatly enjoyed the spectrum of exposure that I have had during this period.  Studies of artists’ work such as Tom Thomson, Clarence Gagnon, John Singer Sargent, Vincent Van Gogh and Helen McNicoll are among my favourites.  Although I have painted a number of my own compositions, as well as studies, I feel that it is time to focus on my personal style. Motivated by moments experienced during the past few years, I carry with me all that I have learned and look forward to where this will take me.

CERTIFICATION

Arts Fundamentals Certificate, Ottawa School of Art, Orleans Campus – 2022

MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS

• Arteast
• Ottawa School of Art
• Ottawa Watercolour Society
• Arts Network Ottawa

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Vernissage Solo Exhibit – Sunday April 16, 2023, 2pm to 4pm, The Wall Gallery (3rd Floor), Ottawa School of Art, Orleans
• Art Credo – April 29 to May 14, 2023
• St-Helen’s Fine Art Fair – May 27, 2023

WORK PRESENTLY EXHIBITED

• Ottawa School of Art, Orleans, 3rd Floor, The Wall Gallery – March 20 to April 26, 2023
• Arteast Promenade, Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Blvd, Orleans – February 9 to April 19, 2023          
• Arteast Awards Exhibition, St-Laurent Complex, 525 Cote Street, Ottawa – March 12 to May 31, 2023
• Ottawa School of Art, Downtown Boutique, 35 George Street, Ottawa – November 2022 to April 2023

AWARDS

• March 2023 – Third Place, Oil, Arteast Award Exhibition, Juried
• April 2016 – Second Place, Acrylic, Ottawa Orchid Society Show, Juried

JURIED EXHIBITS

• 2023 – Arteast Awards Exhibition, Third Place, Oil 
• 2022 – Arteast Awards Exhibition 
• 2021 – Arteast More Mosaic 
• 2020 – Arteast More Mosaic
• 2019 – Arteast More Mosaic
• 2018 – Arteast More Mosaic
• 2017 – Arteast More Mosaic 
• 2017 – Ottawa Orchid Society Show  
• 2016 – Ottawa Orchid Society Show, Second Place, Acrylic
• 2005 – Arteast Budding Artist Exhibit Visual Arts Center, Orleans Gallery  

EXHIBITED WORK

• 2023 – Arteast Promenade, Winter Dreaming
• 2022 – Ottawa School of Art Downtown, Boutique
• 2022 – Ottawa School of Art Downtown, Holiday Fundraiser
• 2022 – Ottawa School of Art Orleans, Arts Fundamentals Certificate Program Students
• 2022 – St-Helen’s Fine Art Fair
• 2022 – Arteast Promenade, Emergence
• 2022 – Arteast Promenade, Welcome Back
• 2022 – Art Credo 2022
• 2021 – St-Helen’s Fine Art Fair -Virtual Exhibit
• 2019 – Arts Network Ottawa
• 2019 – Ottawa School of Art, Orleans, 140th Anniversary Exhibit
• 2019 – Ottawa School of Art, Orleans, Arts Fundamentals Certificate Students
• 2019 – Arteast Summer Inspiration 2019
• 2019 – Ottawa Public Library Orleans Branch
• 2019 – Ottawa School of Art Orleans, The Office Gallery
• 2019 – François Dupuis Recreation Centre
• 2018 – Ottawa School of Art Orleans, The Office Gallery
• 2018 – Ottawa Public Library North Gloucester Branch
• 2015 – Francois Dupuis Recreational Center
• 2013 – Arteast Promenade, Artistic Interlude