Heart of Optimism Painting

“What I dream of is an art of balance, purity and serenity devoid of troubling or depressing subject matter, a soothing calming influence on the mind rather like a good armchair which provides relaxation from physical fatigue.” - - Henri Matisse. Inspired by Matisse’s artistic quest to uplift and energise the viewer, I strive to create light and colour filled paintings that illuminate, soothe and vitalise the human spirit. Perhaps my appreciation for abstraction comes from living in Canada surrounded by mountains, lakes, sky and forests. Nature continually presents me with soothing colours, exciting designs, delightful patterns, intriguing patinas and infinite space. Nature presents light, dark, shadows and movement which evoke emotions of mystery, wonder and love. My goal as a painter is to use nature’s abstract elements like colour and space to capture a particular feeling, a feeling of unity, passion or peacefulness. I strive to create painterly abstractions that mysteriously resonate with my deeper self and hopefully with the soul of the viewer. I believe art is a way to communicate one soul to another. Heidi Thompson