Hello!

I was born in Ontario, Canada. I grew up on a farm in Southwestern Ontario and the need to be out in nature has never left me. I am happiest outside, by the water or in the forest. I am lucky enough to live in a forest, by the beach!

I took a bit of a long route after high school. I earned my Honours Bachelor of Environmental Studies at University of Waterloo (following my interest in all things nature) but found that the office life was not for me. I then followed my heart and attended the Ontario College of Art (now OCADU) in Toronto, Ontario. After art school I needed a steady job as the freelance world was not for me either! I attended the University of Western Ontario and went on to become a teacher of Visual Arts at the high school level in Durham Region, Ontario. I loved my job, but a few years ago it was time. I retired early to pursue my dream of being a full time artist.

I now live in a little beach town in Tiny Township, on Georgian Bay, Ontario.

My work can be found in local galleries and art fairs, and in juried shows across Canada.

I am the current President of the Ontario Society of Artists, the oldest art society in all of Canada. I dreamed of achieving membership, and look at me now!

I am also part of an amazing online community of artists called Mastrius. Mastrius connects artists with master artists, and I am actively being mentored by Master Artists Doug Swinton, Gaye Adams, Ardith Goodwin, Julia Veenstra and Shannon Amey.

Curriculum Vitae

b 1961, Canada

Art Education

Ontario College of Art, Illustration and Design, 1984-1987

Mastrius Art Mentorship, Various mentors, 2021-present

Workshops:

2022 Rosebud Plein Air Weekend with Cam Forrester, Rosebud, AB

2022 Charlie Easton Plein Air workshop, Canmore, AB

Mastrius Mentorships

Gaye Adams: landscape painting

Doug Swinton: Landscape Painting

Art Business Studies: Julia Veenstra, Ardith Goodwin, Veronica Funk, Shannon Amey, Belinda DelPesco, Bob and Kate Burridge

Awards

2020 1st Place Winner, Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts Clerkson Award for Emerging Artists

Associations

Ontario Society of Artists: Current President, elected member since 2021.

Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts, Collingwood

Tiny Art Collective, (founder) Lafontaine, On