About

My primary goal is to create stories on canvas or body forms.   In university, I learned there is nothing new under the sun.  Everything under the sun has been done.  Knowing this, I realize that my stories are not unique to my life.  My memories good or bad, are part of someone else’s history too. 

 When I learned that I had been accepted into a gallery for the first time, I cried the entire three hour drive home.  I did not think my work was good enough.  My work is highly personal, it is original and true to my being.  I am self taught.  I experimented with supplies to find what worked and what I could discard.  I have amassed junk from many, many generous people and thrift stores.  My mission is to “save it from the landfill”.  My storage room looks kind of like a landfill but I see it as a room of treasure.  A friend recently asked me where I learned to do this art.  I said I just did it.  She said that is impossible, you had to have learned how somewhere.  I said truly I did not.  When creating my first piece, I went to Michaels and bought a canvas.  I came home and manned with a glue gun, acrylic paint and items from my junk drawer, I began to work.

I had done two similar projects with my grade 1 and 2 students.  Their work was done on cardboard pieces.  

I started working more and more on small canvases and a friend suggested I create larger ones.  He had connections to a supplier and I purchased 15.  One, as large as 48” x 48”.  What would I do with it?  How would I fill the space?  It was intimidating.  I put two golf clubs on it and made a golf club themed piece.  I thought I would start creating sports themed pieces. 

However, I lost interest in creating themed.  I decided to create remembrance pieces, that idea was short lived as well.  I now realize that all of my pieces are remembrance pieces.  Items live on that had meaning to a previous owner and I like that feeling. I created some works that were nature based and they were nice, but I needed to challenge myself.  

On a girls shopping trip to Great Falls, Montana, I went to Herberger’s Department Store to see their closing out deals.  They had all of their store fixtures on sale for a song.  I saw all of the mannequins and they intrigued me.  Wow, eighteen dollars for a mannequin compared to one hundred dollars for a large canvas,  hmmmm.  I wonder if I could use the mannequin as my canvas.  I loaded up two sets of legs with stands on a loading cart and went to the till to pay.  My friend glanced over from where she was standing with a curious look on her face.  We both laughed at the sight.  I took them out to my vehicle and the next day purchased two more.  Four in total were coming back to Canada with me.  Hindsight would have seen me purchase more but at the time I really did not know what I was going to create with these.  

I started working on “Tu Me Manques”.  I brought out all of my gold coloured treasures.  I wanted this piece to be beautiful.  I did not have a real theme in mind, I just wanted to put gold pieces of memories on the legs.  I tore apart an Apple Bottom Purse I had bought at the Sally Ann and used the zippers, strap and hardware.  I even cut apart my favourite jacket for pieces to add. Did I mention my only working space was on a shower curtain laid out on the carpet in the living room of my one bedroom condo?  This lovely lady took a few months to complete but in the meantime I bought dress forms, wall hanging body forms and other mannequins.  Storage was beginning to be tight.  My den looked like an episode of the hoarders.  

I had finished enough pieces to take part in the art walk.  I joined a now disbanded art group called Twelfth House and we set up for art walks and art in the park.  I was getting some exposure, not many sales, but that was not my intent.  I was so proud to enter into the artist world.  I was also on a waiting list to be guest artist at a local cafe.  

When my day arrived to set up my art at the cafe, I decided I wanted to bring in more traffic to show my appreciation to the owners of their kindness and for this exposure.  I decided to donate one of my pieces for a silent auction held at the cafe.  All proceeds were going to the Local Women’s Shelter.  Over my teaching career, I had taught many children that benefited from the protection of the shelter and memories of their difficult lives continue to live on in my heart.  A generous bidder was happy to receive my piece and everyone benefitted from my guest appearance.  

The following year I retired from teaching elementary school and was able to focus more time on creating.  Funny thing happened though, my mind was in a different mode now.  I didn’t create to relieve my high stress levels, I could create at my leisure with no pressure.  It was an odd feeling.  Adjusting took a few months but my style changed and looking at the body form, I would apply my heart and soul into each piece.  I would base it on my story or stories I knew of others.  My work felt soulful and deep.  I still feel deep emotion looking at each piece.  I continue to do remembrance themes but they are personal, yet relatable if that makes sense.  

Currently, I am creating, entering exhibitions, seeking out galleries and enjoying this journey. A huge highlight from the summer of 2023 was seeing my piece, “Eveline” on the big screen in Times Square, NYC. Wow, was that really mine? I have entered numerous artist calls since 2020. I have received lovely rejection letters, and I mean lovely. Being told your work is fascinating but just not for that particular exhibition is encouraging. I have been accepted into many online and in gallery exhibitions. Galleries in Alberta, Ontario, Texas, California, New York, New Hampshire, Maryland, Ireland, England and so many more have displayed my works. I have received awards, accolades and even an artist talk with Wil Scott from Annapolis, Maryland. I have been featured in a number of publications. I was told my work is sophisticated and unique and that I just needed to shed my humbleness. Does an artist ever shed being humble?

You are never too old or too young to write a new life chapter.  My grandmother started painting in her 80s.  My dad started painting at 19 and continued to create beautiful garden rooms for his entire life.   I feel a peaceful sense of purpose and love.  Art will always keep us young.  Artists are truly the lucky ones, we see beauty in everything.  I am thankful to be an artist.  

Update June 12th, 2024:

Since writing my About Me page, I have had a whirlwind of activity in my art career. Aside from having many of my pieces accepted into exhibitions world wide, I have been fortunate to have my piece “Eveline” broadcast on the big screen in Times Square, NYC. My work has been in exhibitions in Ireland, England, Brussels, Amsterdam and Paris. I was interviewed for an artist talk with Art Historian, Wil Scott that can be viewed on You Tube. My CV has grown in a very short time. I have been invited into local classrooms to teach eco art to elementary aged children. I have created remembrance pieces on canvases that celebrate loved ones using their mementos to keep their memories alive. My quest continues to reuse, repurpose and recycle as much as I can and to tell more stories. More than anything I am thankful. ~ Natalie

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