ARTIST STATEMENT
Earth is severely shifting and there are certain elements that most humans do not realize are essential for our lives to continue to function, such as pollinators. For more than 10 years there has been an increased amount of attention focused on the decline in all pollinator populations. Native bees and honeybees have been a large part of these discussions and how certain factors are affecting these organisms. Habitat loss, pesticides, mites, industrial agriculture and climate change are some of the specific challenges causing major concern for these creatures, and will eventually shape our environment if pollinators continue to die off. Humans need to understand that we share this extremely fragile planet with other life forms that we depend on for our own survival. There is a lack of education on what one needs to do in order to help Mother Earth and the organisms that inhabit it. Let's make an effort to listen to the messages Mother Nature sends us on a daily basis and strive for a better tomorrow.
I am strictly a pollinator artist currently focusing on bees. Through my art I am shedding light on the importance of all pollinators to our ecosystem as well as their current peril.
I dip my toes into many forms of art but I am generally an acrylic painter (on canvas or wood) and an illustrator (coloured pencil and ink). My paintings use multiple materials which tend to draw in viewers due to the vibrant palettes, attention to details and abstract patterns. My illustrations are joyful, colourful and bring laughter to the world. They both spark environmental conversations and are extremely educational.
My fascination with bees began back in 2006 when I started photographing them. It wasn't until the end of 2011 when pain, trauma and joy simultaneously drove me back into the art world and to where I am now. I selected the very first bee photograph I ever took back in 2006 to paint in order to bring joy back into my life. In 2012, I watched a documentary about the decline of the honeybee population (honeybees are not native to North America but are still very important), and I felt compelled to spread the information from the film. The paintings were only supposed to be a one-time series but over the years my passion for all pollinators continued to grow on a more personal level, especially for our native species which need our help the most! So I made the decision to continue this specific journey with bees. I study, hang out, learn, talk to and understand them. I research them, all the way to their little pieces of hair on their legs. I explore different gardens, including my own, throughout the lower mainland trying to find different species to research and find ways to improve this planet.
I have developed my paintings over the years through many different series and critical environmental topics. They are characterized by geometrical and stylized shapes and textures with realistic and silhouetted subject matters. Like macro photography, the backgrounds in my paintings are blocked out unidentifiable shapes and or textures. They symbolize the pollinator’s lives, how their world is blurry, broken and up in the air for survival. The cracked textures are a symbol of light shining through to mend what is broken within their lives. The bold colours are how I view their lives, incredibly strong and full of life. My newest creations incorporate all of these techniques with the aim of portraying an organically nurtured Earth to produce a pollinator friendly garden.
My illustrations are very different from my paintings and are portrayed in a cartoon style. The main focus of the drawings is to bring laughter into people’s lives while educating them either on bee education or life lessons. Through my drawings, I am able to reach a broader audience with my illustrations. Not only am I sharing information with adults, but children are able to learn through them as well. This allows for more awareness and understanding into this planet about pollinators.
Bees and other pollinators are misunderstood by many people and I strive to spread awareness on these beautiful creatures. I wish for my artwork to inspire change because without our pollinators or healthy lands, our lifestyles if not the environment as a whole, will significantly be impacted.