Parts of the Puzzle Painting

My latest body of work, “West of Yours,” delves into the intricate dance between translucency and opacity, using layers of oil paint to give life to abstract compositions. These paintings, a culmination of three years of exploration, feature organic shapes drawn from blind contour sketches of ferns, bark, barnacles and shells found in the lush West Coast rainforest and the Pacific Ocean that envelopes my home on the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia, Canada. The stencils, created out of these natural forms, provide a connection point to my surroundings. They also create a capsule for vibrant colour to radiate. While the hues may initially appear unrelated to the forest or ocean, a closer look in nature reveals the presence of pinks, purples, and bright oranges. This palette challenges conventional perceptions of the wild; inviting viewers to explore the hidden beauty within the familiar. My attempt is not to create a mimetic representation of the wild, but to visualize my own lived experience with the forest and at the ocean, I liken the process to writing a song or poem. I often oscillate between my attraction to create the beauty found in my natural landscape and the awareness of the strife present in our political landscape. In these times, I am compelled to reflect on the purpose of beauty itself. What role does it play in our lives? Is it frivolous or does it serve a deeper purpose? These questions guide my artistic exploration, inviting viewers to join me in this ongoing conversation.