“I live on Vancouver Island in BC, Canada. From pristine waters, craggy mountains, to lush rainforest, I have unlimited access for inspiration and am in awe of it. Slow looking, forest bathing and listening to nature’s song are my experiences in daily life and in art.
“I create with a variety of installations including watercolor, acrylic and pen ink drawing. Several years ago, I started to use alcohol ink, which led me down the road to Abstract and is a perfect fit for an artists with vision loss. Its unpredictable nature of the inks excites my imagination to delve into a style that was unconscious with dream-like elements. I learned that realism is something I had to free from my hands and let my mind’s eye take over a whole new dimension – Abstracts. That statement validates me as an artist and a master of adaptations in art and in life. I continue to do my “blindfolded” series to train myself to continue creating art without vision. “Distortion” and “Street Market Lanterns” are part of this series.
“I am mostly self-taught with some educational background in fine arts at North Island College and have taken several pop up art classes. My pieces have traveled to numerous shows in the US and Canada while they hang on walls in many countries. This past summer I had the opportunity to teach a class that has Usher Syndrome in Seattle using a program I had created called “Art without Boundaries.” I wanted to encourage others that they too can be an artist. I hope to continue teaching and giving back to the deaf/blind communities and organizations. It was an experience both rewarding and heartwarming.
“The mind’s eye is a powerful tool. Imagine having limited vision where your brain has to memorize nature’s design and colors. I put that into practice every time I want to paint. Currently using alcohol ink as my main choice of medium, I bring the colors to life first by manipulating the inks all over the substrate with a loose design using a straw to move the colors into a rough design. Once dried, the fun begins, I see magic developing onto the paper showing me the possibility of what it might become. Details are painstakingly slow using ink and alcohol, it is hard to control, quick drying and take a bit of creativity to manipulate the inks, add texture – using recycled plastic, sponges, textured papers, brushes, and straws are my main implements. In some pieces, I add texture and luster to enhance my design. Whilst I still have some vision left, with courage I rely less on vision and more on intuitive painting.
“My goal as an artist is to break down the stigma of blindness, one brushstroke at a time – we as artists can bring in a different perspective by expanding your vision of style and design.
