My journey with art and painting has focused on a sense of place — the people, the things, and the landscapes that place us somewhere.
Whether that somewhere is home, work, or a foreign country, it’s always an opportunity to foster and understand human connection.
Portfolio
Blossoming Tree at Sunrise
Acrylic on Canvas, 16 x 20 inches
This painting captures a tree in full bloom set against the shifting colors of a sunrise. I hoped to evoke the symbolism of spring, with new births and beginnings, and the cycle of growth and change.
Empty Bench, after Leonid Afremov
Acrylic on Canvas, 12 x 16 inches
I’ve been fascinated by lights and cityscapes since when my parents would take me out for city drives in the night when I was young.
When I first saw the original piece by Leonid Afremov, I loved the simplicity of it, and its sense of place. The use of colour and light adds a sense of nostalgia that comforts while inviting the viewer in.
This piece was my attempt to take this landscape, and incorporate the feeling and perspectives of those late-night drives through the city.
The Cutting Board
Acrylic on Canvas, 16 x 16 inches
After my father had a stroke, he was left without the ability to speak or understand many words. It became hard to communicate, but in this time food and the kitchen were a way for us to connect and to show love.
At this time, I painted him this piece with bok choy and a watermelon — two simple staples that were a bit part of our time together in the kitchen. It was a way for me to show my love and to connect without words.
I was able to showcase this in our annual art gallery (right).
Starry Night, after Van Gogh
Oil on Canvas, 12 x 16 inches
This painting is an interpretation of Starry Night be Van Gogh. I was inspirited by his art from when I was young, and recreating it allowed me to connect with his story and gain an understanding of how he viewed the world and his art.
Salmon Arm
Acrylic on Canvas, 12 x 16 inches
This painting is based on a landscape I visited in Salmon Arm, BC. I was taken aback by the tranquility of the environment and wanted to capture this in a painting. I initially wanted to add more detail, but later decided under my teacher’s guidance that the simplicity better captures the calm of the moment.
Kitchen Scene
Acrylic on Canvas, 12 x 16 inches
This painting is a cartoon rendering of the kitchen in my childhood home. For our family, the kitchen was an area of safety, connection, and growth. I sought to capture the emotion and the comfort of our kitchen with this simplified piece.
A Quebec Village Street, after Clarence Gagnon
Acrylic on Canvas, 12 x 16 inches
This painting is an homage to Clarence Gagnon’s “A Quebec Village Street”. I have always been drawn to Canadian landscapes and the long heritage of Canadian artists, and working on this painting allowed me to further engage with this.
When I was younger, my family was unable to go on vacations for many years, so when we finally went when I was an adolescent it opened up my eyes to a new sense of calm and well-being. This painting was an early attempt to capture the feeling I had then, and to put the memory in a snapshot.
Beach Chairs
Acrylic on Canvas, 12 x 16 inches
This painting of Snoopy (a favourite character of mine) allowed me to experiment with mixed methods and different media. I decided upon using dried acrylic paint and shrink wrap to create a textured, 2.5-dimensional view. This helped me reconnect with my childhood, and the creativity involved in art.
Snoopy
Mixed-Methods, 12 x 12 inches
