I am retired from my 25 year career as a teacher and have lived in Cambridge with my family since 1987. I have always enjoyed various creative activities but had never taken a formal art class until the recent past decade.
I find that I have come to creative expression through visual art in the recent past and have been totally inspired by my experiences, first by painting strictly with acrylics, and now branching out by experimenting with different media. I took my first art course in acrylics in 2009 and have not stopped since. I have continued to expand my learning about art and painting through a variety of courses and open studio classes at the Cambridge Centre for the Arts as well as from Laurie Wonfor Nolan through her Studio Classes and most recently at the Dundas Valley School for the Arts. Right from my first encounter with painting, I immediately embraced the vivid colours, flexibility and fluidity of creating artwork with acrylics.
I was initially drawn to painting sea/landscapes because of my fascination by the sweeping nature of skies and horizons. At first, I was moved to try capturing the look of clouds, and on pieces involving the reflective qualities of water, then experimenting with interpreting natural objects. I have spent time trying to interpret the look of light on the colour of items such as fruits and pieces of pottery. As my subject interests continue to evolve, I have recently been studying the relationship of line, depth and movement through abstract forms and incorporating mixed media.
There has been an organic evolution in my choice of colour palate over time, and I have enjoyed the challenge of including other art materials such as chalk and paper in my work. My interest in what to paint is relatively fluid as is evident from the range of subjects in my works, and changes depending on the seasons and what has ‘caught my eye’ lately. So I can definitely say I am never quite sure what direction my artworks may take next!
As my self-image as an artist develops momentum, I am realizing how much I am motivated by the interplay of colour and light on objects, landscapes and life around me. I will continue to explore how the feelings evoked in me by what I see, influence my interpretation of what I am moved to put on canvas.
Brenda has had her art shown at the Woodstock Art Gallery Juried Show as well as both the Cambridge Juried Arts Show and the Artists and Apprentices Show hosted by the Cambridge Centre for the Arts. Recently, in the 2018 Cambridge Juried Art Show she won the 1st Juror's award and in the 2019 Cambridge Juried Show she won 2nd Juror's Award. Brenda has participated in shows with the Central Ontario and K-W Society of Artists as well as at the Wellington Artists Gallery in Fergus, the Button Factory in Waterloo as well as the Box 13 Show and Box 13 Encore Show at WalterFedy Architects in Kitchener and Dundas Valley School of the Arts Annual Silent Auction Show and Sale.
I find that I have come to creative expression through visual art in the recent past and have been totally inspired by my experiences, first by painting strictly with acrylics, and now branching out by experimenting with different media. I took my first art course in acrylics in 2009 and have not stopped since. I have continued to expand my learning about art and painting through a variety of courses and open studio classes at the Cambridge Centre for the Arts as well as from Laurie Wonfor Nolan through her Studio Classes and most recently at the Dundas Valley School for the Arts. Right from my first encounter with painting, I immediately embraced the vivid colours, flexibility and fluidity of creating artwork with acrylics.
I was initially drawn to painting sea/landscapes because of my fascination by the sweeping nature of skies and horizons. At first, I was moved to try capturing the look of clouds, and on pieces involving the reflective qualities of water, then experimenting with interpreting natural objects. I have spent time trying to interpret the look of light on the colour of items such as fruits and pieces of pottery. As my subject interests continue to evolve, I have recently been studying the relationship of line, depth and movement through abstract forms and incorporating mixed media.
There has been an organic evolution in my choice of colour palate over time, and I have enjoyed the challenge of including other art materials such as chalk and paper in my work. My interest in what to paint is relatively fluid as is evident from the range of subjects in my works, and changes depending on the seasons and what has ‘caught my eye’ lately. So I can definitely say I am never quite sure what direction my artworks may take next!
As my self-image as an artist develops momentum, I am realizing how much I am motivated by the interplay of colour and light on objects, landscapes and life around me. I will continue to explore how the feelings evoked in me by what I see, influence my interpretation of what I am moved to put on canvas.
Brenda has had her art shown at the Woodstock Art Gallery Juried Show as well as both the Cambridge Juried Arts Show and the Artists and Apprentices Show hosted by the Cambridge Centre for the Arts. Recently, in the 2018 Cambridge Juried Art Show she won the 1st Juror's award and in the 2019 Cambridge Juried Show she won 2nd Juror's Award. Brenda has participated in shows with the Central Ontario and K-W Society of Artists as well as at the Wellington Artists Gallery in Fergus, the Button Factory in Waterloo as well as the Box 13 Show and Box 13 Encore Show at WalterFedy Architects in Kitchener and Dundas Valley School of the Arts Annual Silent Auction Show and Sale.