Artist Statement
My neighborhood is found at the base of Burke Mountain, and every year we share our neighborhood with the bears who come out scavenging for food and to fish in the river. This year, we had a mama with two cubs, and two juveniles who hang out together. We have a community Facebook page where people share photos and videos of the bears around the neighborhood, and in the summer there are multiple posts daily! I chose to paint the bears amongst the houses and gardens to show our coexistence, and to reflect on what we can continue to do to ensure a peaceful coexistence between us and these magnificent creatures. Thank you to Wesley Barr and Lesley Croze for permission to use their photos as references.
Biography
Growing up in a neighborhood surrounded by forest in the Tri-Cities, I have always had a fascination and appreciation for the nature around me. From a young age, plants, animals and landscapes have always been a huge inspiration for my art. It all began with drawing, and now my main focus is primarily on acrylic painting. I have been exploring abstract, impressionism, and realism, and I enjoy practicing life drawing. Art has always been a hobby for me, but in the last 6 years I decided to take it more seriously and have taken numerous classes online and in-person, which have greatly improved my skills. Positively Petite is my first exhibition.