Are you looking for artwork that is beautiful, meaningful, dramatic or peaceful to add to your home or space? Would having the help of an Interior Designer be beneficial? As a photographer, painter and Interior Designer I invite you to explore my artwork.
As you embark on this journey of exploring my website, I invite you to embrace the benefits that art can bring to your life. Together, we can transform your surroundings and create spaces that enrich your life and the lives of everyone who shares time with you.
For 19 years I have operated my own successful Interior Design business in conjunction with raising a family of four remarkable sons. Within the realm of Interior Design, I developed a keen eye for colour and detail, recognizing the profound impact that beauty can have on our homes and, ultimately, our well-being. It was my mission to create sanctuaries with clients, designing spaces that not only delighted the eye but also nurtured the soul.
During my career, I had the privilege of collaborating with clients to select the perfect art pieces for their homes and workspaces. With years of experience in this field, I developed a deep understanding of how art can enrich a space, evoking emotion and create focal points that captivate the eye. If you find yourself unsure about the ideal size or style of art to complement your home or office, please know that I am here to offer guidance based on my knowledge and experience. It would be an honor to assist you in curating a collection that speaks to your unique taste and enhances the ambiance of your space.
As a child my parents built a number of our family’s homes and we all pitched in to help. At the age of 15, we embarked on another construction project, and I took on the task of insulating my own bedroom, in Northern Alberta, Canada. It ends up that it was the coldest room in the house, and I was often teased that it was because I did it myself. That very well may be true. We were taught to stretch, to try new things and to learn something every day. My Dad still asks, “Did you learn something today?” This way of life undoubtedly nurtured my curiosity as well as my love for creativity, exploration, and lifelong learning.
While I still adore the smell of lumber being cut and watching something being created out of a pile of wood, I have been increasingly drawn to a more contemplative way of life. Contemplative photography is a process of meditative observation. It invites me to notice differences, patterns, juxtapositions and to observe how light and shadow influence our surroundings. The feeling of paint as it connects with the surface I’m painting on, brings me joy and enriches my life. Sharing it with others brings me joy and purpose.
My journey in photography began during the film era when I was just a child. As a teenager, I had the opportunity to learn film development and print making in the darkroom at school. I loved the process of bringing a photograph to life
From a young age, I enjoyed seeking new perspectives. I would often lay upside down on the couch, visually transforming the ceiling into the floor with the light fixtures assuming the appearance of furniture and I was thrilled because I now had a new world to visually explore. I still lay down on the ground to capture unique perspectives when I photograph. I climb to the highest places I can get to for a different view with my husband, Ken and my tripod stand. He reluctantly gets up with me before daybreak, so I am set up to witness and capture the light as it breaks across the horizon. Ken always ends up thanking me for these experiences. One morning he still talks about, is when we got up at 4:00 in the morning to photograph Venice. We shared the entire St. Mark’s Square with only one other person who was sweeping in preparation for the crowds. It was truly magical!
The healing power of art is something I have personally experienced and witnessed. It has been an honor to have my artwork permanently installed in multiple hospices and hospitals across Calgary.
As well, over 50 carefully curated pieces of mine are offered to seriously ill patients in hospices and hospitals, allowing them to choose an art piece that resonates with their spirit and infuses their surroundings with beauty and peace.
Many patients and family members have written or spoken to me about how my pieces have brought them peace and hope. I’ve visited numerous patients at their bedsides, their stories of how the art touches them has brought me to tears.
These experiences reaffirm my commitment to creating art that touches hearts and nurtures the soul.
Prior to the pandemic, I had the privilege of creating and teaching numerous Contemplative Practices and Contemplative Photography courses at St. Mary’s University Extended Studies in Calgary.
From 2006 until present ~ I’ve taught photography, meditation, journaling, painting and Expressive Arts Retreats to individuals and groups for businesses, churches, small church groups, Spiritual Directors in formation and students as well as teachers in schools in Calgary, Canada.
In 2006, I completed my Spiritual Direction formation and currently offer this service to individuals and groups both online and in person. Contact me at [email protected] for more information.
My husband and I organize a yearly, 10-day contemplative pilgrimage to Assisi, Italy. I have the privilege of teaching contemplative practices and photography there. Our upcoming pilgrimage is Monday, October 16th – Thursday, October 26th, 2023
For more information please go to www.contemplativepilgrimages.com
I invite you to subscribe and stay updated on my newest pieces, upcoming exhibitions, and reflections on my work giving you an inside look into my creative processes.
I invite you to subscribe and stay updated on my newest pieces, upcoming exhibitions, and reflections on my work giving you an inside look into my creative processes.
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