Contemporary Local Scenes

Trees in the Hills

Acrylics on Textured Paper

We have been blessed with a variety of land formations very near to where we live. Within an hour or two we can cool off in large lakes and sun tan on the whitest of sandy beaches. We can drive along ribbons of highway and watch spectacular prairie sunsets right on the horizon. We can view breath taking heights in the Pembina Hills or in the Riding Mountain National Park....the results of a fault line which runs north and south just a short distance west of us.

Shelter Belt

Acrylics on Textured Watercolour Paper

When you live in the same area as long as I have you can begin to see the scenery around you as ordinary and boring. It often takes a visitor from outside the area to remind us how beautiful and refreshing our visual surroundings really are. In this set of paintings I wanted to take an ordinary prairie scene and paint it the way I really feel about it. With a basic composition it is amazing how you can take advantage of its simplicity and create a contemporary piece of art full of colour and excitement.

Continuing the Black Vase Series

Black Vases in Metallics

Acrylics on Water Colour Paper

Black Vase with Yellow Flowers

Black Vase with Red Flowers

Black Vase with Orange Flowers

Acrylics on Textured Water Colour Paper

More New Works

Collage of Leaves and Hand Made Paper

I have been enjoying the art of collage. A very different perspective to creativity. I find that I can concentrate more closely on composition and colour value without having to deal with drawing skills here. It is very rewarding and I have learned more about shape and other elements of design by doing these works of art.

Pears in Metallic

Acrylic on Paper

Three Pears in a Row

Water Colour on Masa Paper

A New Direction and New Works of Art

Yellow Field Poppies and Red Field Poppies

Acrylic on Textured Watercolour Paper

I have experienced an incredible two years exploring a new direction I took in my art. It has been very successful for me in so many ways and because of this I plan to spend more time working and exploring this kind of creative art work.

Prairie

Paper Collage

The decision to leave my traditional style of work for awhile and look into other techniques, mediums, subject matter and colour palettes was actually a very frightening thought. But I ignored the feelings and went foreward with as much courage as I could pull together. It was a whole new world for me. I had to awaken a very sleepy creative mind and I found that very difficult because I had to change the way I saw the ordinary. This wasn't an area I spent alot of time in and expressed when I was creating my traditional works of art. It was like learning to walk all over again. Using creativity and imagination did not come natural for me at all.....so I had alot of difficult work ahead for me to do.