My lifelong passion for art unraveled and materialized while living in Japan. While apprenticing under a notable Japanese artist, Atsuko Miwa, I learned a unique style of painting called Nihonga, or Japanese painting. This style of painting dates back over a thousand years and is rarely heard of outside of Japan and China. The pigments are derived from natural sources and therefore offer an exquisite final result. Specifically, they are derived from semi-precious stones, crushed minerals, sea shells, coral, colorful insects, tree moss and other sources from nature. Gold and silver are also often used in powder form, thin leaf or flakes. What results is a unique texture, brilliant rich color and ethereal hues. (To learn more about my background with Nihonga, please see the articles link).Besides painting, travel and photography have also played an integral role throughout my life. I have traveled extensively to over fifteen countries including India, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Hong Kong, China, Israel, Spain, Brazil and Hawaii. My interest in photography escalated while exploring the spiritually dynamic culture of India, and the lush, exotic natural environment of Thailand. I was also deeply inspired while documenting Geisha and Maiko in the Gion district of Kyoto, Japan.
Through my studies in Japan and through exploring and photographing diverse cultures, I discovered painting and photography hold parallel and independent components in the creative process, and that by studying both there has been a reciprocal development of my skills in each medium.
I like to photograph whatever appeals to me in the moment I see it, whether it be a beautiful landscape, an intriguing portrait or dynamic architecture. I hope my love and reverence of nature can be felt by outside viewers in both my paintings and photographs. I also hope to remind people of the inherent beauty our world holds.
Born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, I currently reside in Vancouver, British Columbia.
