ABOUT THE ART(ist) THERAPIST
I am a Canadian artist working with a wide, and sometimes odd, range of media. My predominant focus through the more recent years has been working with ink, pencil, and animals. I received my formal training obtaining my double major degree with Psychology and Visual Art. My art however, has always been my escape into a world I had control over with a simple stroke of a pencil since I was a young girl. My connection to my work grew stronger over the years and I acknowledged the power that my unconscious had influencing the subject matter that I chose to explore in my pieces. This new knowledge alongside my personal history pushed me into studying Art Therapy as a master's equivalent and I am currently working on completing my thesis as a working professional in my community.
Driven by my own anxieties and passion, I explore the light within the darkness, and add beauty to what some view as an unsettling blank canvas. From my rapid process art in my therapeutic exploration (not all are uploaded, some are kept private), to my calculated work showcased in galleries, my work aims to be the one way mirror for an audience to become enveloped in the world I created. I want my viewer to think, make their own associations, and unearth what lies within them as I spill on the canvas what thoughts and emotions lie within me. I have been in the process of merging my artist identity and therapeutic identity therefore coming to this title of an Art(ist) Therapist. That all being said, my body of work at this time is not complete or uniform. The unearthing process through my art therapy program resulted in me looking at my art in a new perspective. Since having completed my practical training in May, I have not only been altering the way I execute my art, but my investment into the process has changed. So within the next year or so I will be building a new body of work (wood panels + animals), and will be venturing away from others (fan art). This re-birthing of my artist identity will take time, but is an experience I am embracing to soothe and give light to my inner voice. I appreciate the space being held during this period, but in the meantime, please enjoy the work I have uploaded because they are still a very large part of who I am, and what I love.
I have had so many influencing role models over the years that pushed my edges and encouraged me to ground myself in my way of being. To my professor I took BioArt with, and her talented mind. She was the one in university who drove me to these crazy ideas of merging my illustrations with my love of animals into a wild new hybrid of taxidermy story telling. To my taxidermist in my home town with his huge heart. He is always cheering me on and providing me both materials and many learning opportunities as well exposure for my art. To my Art Therapy instructors, teaching assistants, and friend-colleagues with their beautiful souls who believed in me more than I believed in myself. They helped me push myself so far that I could never look back from how much I had learned about my profession and who I am as a person. Lastly, to everyone else who has spent time with me late at night in the art studios, who has purchased or provided support to my art, who has let me vent about all the struggles along the way, those who came to my shows and helped me learn and grow, here's to you all! It has been an incredible path thus far that I am excited to continue and greet what this life has in store for me next!
I am currently putting my commissions on hold. As explained I am on a journey to rediscover the self and focusing on my own body of work at this time. I will also be expanding more into my therapeutic realm with workshops as as well my full time profession while completing my thesis. I have had many opportunities throughout my life that I am forever grateful for between shows and sales and wish to continue this trend with work that is congruent with my inner core. I will frequently be updating the website as more work is produced. Also soon to come to the website is previous publications/photos from shows as well as a 'Shop' to be able to order prints.