I've practiced in the visual arts professionally since 2005. My training, experience and study in fine arts have been consistent as a second generation artist, daughter of artist Mary Louise Leach art was always a part of my life, as was nature. I've heard the second generation artist inherits not only techniques but also the spirit, discovering art is more than aesthetics; it’s a language. I believe this to be true.
My father served in the Canadian Armed Forces as a logistician, so my formative years were spent living both domestically and abroad doing lots of travelling and camping. This allowed me to gain an appreciation of other cultures and landscapes, fostering my desire to paint the Canadian Landscape known for its natural beauty and pristine wilderness.
In my early adult years, I resided in Rural Eastern Ontario and spent almost 12 years in Western Quebec. There, nature and wilderness seamlessly intertwined with everyday life, igniting my deep passion for wilderness painting. I reveled in discovering unique corners of these regions, translating their beauty onto my canvases. Since then, my artistic exploration has expanded beyond those familiar borders. While my roots remain planted, I now seek inspiration from diverse landscapes from all areas in Canada. Yet, it was those early years amidst the untamed beauty of Rural Ontario and Western Quebec that laid the foundation for my true love of wilderness painting.
My art medium is oil and acrylic painting; genre is landscape and wilderness. All my large original paintings are created in studio in oil or acrylic paint with the use of reference materials from being on location. I paint plein-air on location with with oil or watercolours and recently started doing more extensive journaling with sketches creating almost book rather than individual paintings when on location. I have original artwork in permanent collections with the Canadian War Museum, and City of Ottawa Fine Arts collection as well as numerous corporate and private collections.
I often create a series of original paintings. My vivid landscape and wilderness paintings tell a story, art is my visual language hopefully allowing me to share these stories with you, fostering a deeper appreciation of these areas and the uniqueness that connects them to our daily lives. I have exhibited my paintings at the Home and Cottage Show and the Outdoor Adventure Show in Ottawa and Toronto as well as numerous art events with my original wilderness paintings. Large solo exhibits included Ottawa International Airport and The Museum of Nature where my original Dumoine River series of paintings were exhibited for a special event. My artistic vision is deeply rooted in the Canadian Landscape and wilderness, my style seamlessly blends with elements of realism and impressionism.
From 2005- 2015 I worked from my home-based studio in Kars, Ontario. In 2023 I opened Wind Rock Ridge Art Gallery , it started as a open studio so I could invite visitors into my studio and quickly expanded into a open studio with an adjoining art gallery.
'Wind Rock Ridge Art Gallery'
As a professional artist and owner of an art gallery , I have gained real world valuable experience in the day to day running of a local art gallery. " Artists supporting artists". You can find a link to my art gallery and its location in my contact info.