This body of work celebrates the Interior Temperate Rainforests located in the Kaslo and North Kootenay Lake area.
Visits to these forests have become one of my absolute favourite pastimes. Sitting in these forests for long periods of time, I have seen an amazing contrast of light and shadow among the trees. When the sun’s rays stream down through the canopy, there is a dynamic colour feast that changes by the second as the sun moves on its way. As a result, the tree images I paint contain every colour of the rainbow. Using the template of the French curve to draw, I have simplified the design of the forests resulting in ovals of light, sweeping branches and curved trunks.
Interior Temperate Rainforests stretch from the West Kootenays to the Robson Valley near Prince George. They are the only rainforests in the world that derive the majority of their moisture from snow. The forests harbour unique species of life many of which are species of lichens that have recently been discovered. In this body of work, I feature Wild Ginger one of the many plants that have evolved to live in the damp shade of western cedar, hemlock and Douglas fir.
The purpose of my show is to draw attention to the beauty of the Interior Temperate Rainforests and, perhaps, see these forests in a new light. Besides providing habitat for many species of plant and animals, they create an atmosphere of calm and quiet in which we can sense our connection to nature and put in perspective the changes that are happening in the ecosystems around us. In Japanese medicine, “forest bathing” has become a cornerstone of preventive health care. Walking or sitting quietly in a forest gives one a sense of calm and rejuvenation, potentially lowering blood pressure and reducing stress.
I use watercolours as my medium because of their transparent quality. At most, I use six or seven colours. Initially, I lay down a wash, let it dry, then on the same area, overlay another wash of a different colour. Because these colours are transparent, the underlying colour shines through creating a unique iridescent glow.
