This summer field beside our cottage was used by the young geese for their touch-down and take-off practice. It was hilarious watching how ungainly their efforts were. It reminded me of the complications of teaching our children on line. Somehow, they all will rise above it.

For several days later, I have painted the rocky shoreline by our home with its undulating and everchanging forms. The shoreline always seems alive with new colours and shapes to explore.

In this seascape, I tried to capture the motion of the Salish Sea as it came upon the jeweled coast. I was painting in the late afternoon when a golden glow lingered over the ocean which I was able to capture in brushstrokes of brilliant yellow. Playfully, I placed touches of pink and light cobalts among the earthtoned hues of the coastline.

These were the things that captured my heart during those days.

Since moving closer to the Niagara Escarpment, I have been creating works in reference to it as a point of inquiry. Historically it provided power and building materials, today it continues to shoulder a balance between agriculture, encroachment, scenic beauty and environmental significance as a world biosphere reserve.​ This plein air painting was made while sitting above Hamilton, a city known for steel manufacturing, it abuts the escarpment in a striking manner with green space bisecting the city into upper and lower parts. I employed painting and drawing techniques as a means to merge the linear and organic elements of the landscape and consider the ongoing relationship between them.​

This watercolour on paper was done on location in the Exchange district in Winnipeg. I was captivated by the reflection in the Fleet Gallery’s window. The alley-way behind me shows the building where my studio is located. At the time, there was a Chinese artist showing his work in the gallery. It resonated with me as I have lived in China. It represented to me, the looking forward into the future, with the knowledge of the past.

The title of my landscape drawing is Hideaway. During a walk, I was fortunate to stumble across a small, breathtakingly beautiful forest in North York, Toronto. The forest is mostly pine, but there are a couple of other species of trees spotted every so often. I was so overcome with inspiration to draw my surroundings that I took many pictures of the landscape and took note of the different shapes and patterns of the leaves. The photographs were used to map out the points of interest like the trees and bushes, and to help with visual balance and overall composition.

Cristie Lake Conservation area. It was amazing to see this beautiful place and people enjoying it. I captured this special moment.

Due to COVID, my photography was largely limited to my own property. We have had these peonies for years and I never really paid them much attention. I was taken, upon closer inspection though, with the delicate nature of the peony flower and the subtle colours and shapes of the flower petals. This image focuses on the details of these beautiful flowers.

One of J.E.H. MacDonald’s best-known artworks is The Tangled Garden, a colourful display of sunflowers from his to the tangled flowers, as the roots twist and turn, one can almost imagine tiny creatures playing among the roots, finding hidey holes for their treasures. I converted the photo to a black-and-white image, to emphasize the texture and interplay of the roots and natural shadows.

I often take aimless drives around the Collingwood area to experience the diversity of the surroundings, and the beauty it offers. Autumn is a particularly special time of year not only for picturesque landscapes, but its brevity. This was one such occasion I had no choice but to pull over to admire, as the sunshine gave way to unexpected snow showers, offering this gorgeous display of the season. Snow fell atop the hillside, alongside the last of the fall colors shining in the sun, as a cold and tumultuous sky loomed in the background. It is moments like these that make me especially fond of being a photographer, able to capture moments in an instant, while exploring the beautiful area in which I live.