Early life: I have always had an appreciation for others’ creative spirits and talents. My mother’s creativity in art, and my father’s passion for music, were a strong influence for me in my pursuit of art interests. As a teacher in French Immersion and Special Education, I felt it a privilege to see each child’s creative style, interests and personality be expressed.

Later: My interest in art grew again in the 1990s when I decided to sign up for my first art class in drawing. Pursuing this interest periodically over the years, I began painting with acrylics, and with oils a few years later.

Now: I have since completed the Arts Fundamentals Certificate Program at the Ottawa School of Art. Landscapes, street scenes and still life are my preferred subjects, while Impressionism is the style I am most drawn to, I continue to attend classes and workshops, broadening my interests and acquiring new skills.

Influences: I am particularly grateful to Andrea Mossop, David Kearn, Tim McGuire and Gordon Harrison for the influence they have had on me with their artistic knowledge, skills and philosophy. Artists that also inspire me include: James Wilson Morrice, Tom Thomson, Clarence Gagnon, Helen McNicoll, John Singer Sargent, Alfred Sisley, Joaquin Sorolla, Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet.

Exhibits and awards: Numerous paintings of mine have been exhibited at Art Credo, Ottawa School of Art, St-Helen’s Art Fair, as well in various locations for Arteast. My art has also recently been exhibited at the Electric Gallery in Ottawa.

I have had the privilege of being the recipient of the following awards:

–Third Place in Oils for “Lac d”Annecy I”, Arteast Awards Exhibit (AAE) March 2023

–Second Place in Acrylics for “Orchidées en mauve”, Ottawa Orchid Society April 2016, judged by visual artist Bhat Boy.

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Au départ: J’ai toujours admiré la créativité et les talents d’autrui. La créativité artistique de ma mère, et la passion musicale de mon père, ont fortement influencé mon intérêt pour l’art. En tant qu’enseignante en immersion française et en éducation spécialisé, j’ai eu le privilège de découvrir le style créatif, les intérêts et la personnalité qu’exprimait chaque enfant.

Plus tard: Mon intérêt pour l’art s’est ravivé dans les années 1990 lorsque j’ai décidé de m’inscrire à mon premier cours de dessin. Cultivant cet intérêt de façon intermittente au fil des ans, j’ai commencé à peindre à l’acrylique, et puis à l’huile quelques années plus tard.

Aujourd’hui: J’ai depuis obtenu le Certificat en arts fondamentaux de l’École d’art d’Ottawa. Les paysages, les scènes de rue et les natures mortes sont mes sujets de prédilection. Et, l’impressionnisme est le style qui m’attire le plus. Je continue de suive des cours et des ateliers afin d’élargir mes horizons et d’acquérir de nouvelles compétences.

Influences: Je suis particulièrement reconnaissante à Andrea Mossop, David Kearn, Tim McGuire et Gordon Harrison pour l’influence qu’ils ont eue sur moi grâce à leurs connaissances artistiques, leurs compétences et leurs philosophies. Parmi les artistes qui m’inspirent, on peut citer: James Wilson Morrice, Tom Thomson, Clarence Gagnon, Helen McNicoll, John Singer Sargent, Alfred Sisley, Joaquin Sorolla, Vincent Van Gogh et Claude Monet.

Expositions et prix: Plusieurs de mes tableaux ont été exposés à Art Credo, à l’École d’art d’Ottawa, à la Foire des beaux-arts de Sainte-Hélène, à divers lieux pour Arteast, ainsi que à la Electric Gallery.

J’ai eu l’honneur d’être destinataire des prix suivants:

–Troisième prix pour huiles: “Lac d’Annecy I”, exposition des prix Arteast (AAE)m nars 2023

–Deuxième prix pour acryliques: “Orchidées en mauve”, exposition de la Société des orchidées d’Ottawa 2016, jugé par l’artiste Bhat Boy.

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

UPCOMING EVENTS/EXHIBITS

• Ottawa School of Art: Arts Fundamentals Alumni Exhibit: September 13 to November 1, 2026
• Arteast: François Dupuis Recreation Centre: July 4 to September 7, 2026
• Electric Gallery: June 12 to August 5, 2026
• Ottawa School of Art Boutique: May 28 to August 5, 2026
• Art Credo: May 8 to May 24, 2026
• Ottawa School of Art: Vernissage Solo Exhibit, April 16, 2023, 2 – 4 pm, The Wall Gallery
• Art Credo: April 29 to May 14, 2023
• St-Helen’s Fine Art Fair: May 27, 2023
• Ottawa School of Art, Orleans, The Wall Gallery – March 20 to April 26, 2023
• Arteast Promenade, Shenkman Arts Centre, February 9 to April 19, 2023          
• Arteast Awards Exhibition, St-Laurent Complex, March 12 to May 31, 2023
• Ottawa School of Art, Downtown Boutique, 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 (to be updated)

• 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