Tell me about yourself, where you live and your background/lifestyle.
I live just north of Toronto, Canada.
I am an emotional, curious, messy, loving, modern woman who is
absolutely passionate about my life. I live in a log house in the
country surrounded by huge towering maples and beech trees. I share my
home with my husband, two children, my mum and a very large number of
animals.We thrive on country things, waking up to bullfrogs singing,
Canada geese honking, coyotes howling and fresh manure all around. Ours
is very much a country life, which is a wonderful place to come home to
each day. Who I am as a person is someone who has made a conscious choice
to live my life the way I see fit. It has taken me this long to sort out
that I can choose how to react and interpret events as they happen to me;
for me that means empowerment and happiness. Happiness (harmony)holds me
up each day when I rise and it comes with me when I pick up a pencil or
paintbrush. It has helped me synthesize everything I've lived through and
turn those experiences into a life enhancer. Certainly I'm a better
person for that. The family is at the centre of my life. I find meaning,
continuity and that feeling of belonging which I think is important.
Pieces such as "Remains the Child" (oil) celebrates my place in the
world, as someone who delights in discovery.And that when all the layers
of life are stripped away we are all children inside. "Childhood
stories"(oil) is based on a picture of my mum and her sister with their
mum, 1932. It captures the essence of my granny who, now withered and in
a nursing home was young and vibrant as she played in the water with her
two youngsters. It brought home to me the idea of how briefly we grace
this earth and how brightly we shine for ourselves and for others.
Who first influenced you artistically?
Without a doubt my mum and dad sparked the flame that has burned
inside me since being old enough to ask why! They encouraged me to take
it all in; every little bit of my life and this happened simply by the
way they interacted with me and each other in our home. Responsible,
loving, funny, and very uninhibited about sharing feelings, joy of good
music, nature, dance, sport. They taught me to feel my life and that gave
me the 'oomph' to find a way to express my reaction to my life. Art seems
to be the natural extension to a life well lived.
What first attracted you to the Internet?
I was first attracted to the internet because I love the idea of
communication. I would think most artists do and although I love to get
my hands dirty, sticky and full of paint, the internet is a very lively
and energizing source of expression and as a medium offers an infinite
potential. I have always enjoyed sharing ideas and combined with a zest
for adventure and travel the net has brought me further inspiration. I
never worry about the computer finishing off art. It will allow for
further exploration of old themes. Anyone with a passion for art who
combines this passion with the computer will make a genuine contribution
to current art.
Is there anything about the way you produce your work that you believe to
be unique or unusual?
Everything about the way I produce my work is unique and unusual
because everything about me is unique and unusual. We all need to embrace
the originality of ourselves. I think culturally and generational this
is one of our biggest stumbling blocks: we all want to be individuals and
yet we are all afraid to be different. I've learned that my own personal
voice is one to celebrate. No one can experience, can touch, can feel my
life like me. Therefore I am the absolute best translator of my own
experience and in that respect I feel successful as an artist.
What style of art really makes you angry?
I've learned that anger is something we indulge ourselves in when we
don't want to confront something in ourselves that makes us feel
vulnerable. In that respect I don't get terribly angry with viewing art.
Not to suggest I live in a dream land, I've focused my shows often on
themes such as the Holocaust, abuse, sickness. However if I see an
artist doing something that angers or disgusts me I try to consider where
he /she might be coming from and why I am reacting so strongly to it. If
I feel there is a sincere attempt at self expression or documentation I
try to respect it.