Recently, I've been reflecting on my earlier work, pieces created decades ago—and observing how my style, technique, and subject matter have evolved over time. It's like leafing through an old photo album or diary, revisiting a creative journey unfolding across a lifetime. Some elements have remained constant: my deep connection to the natural world, the influence of new cultures, and a desire to tell meaningful stories through art. But just as compelling is seeing how the ways I express these core themes have changed.
I've been painting for a long time. My professional journey began as a teenager, sketching portraits with pastels on paper in the streets of Old Montreal. Before that, I believed I could draw, but it was then that I truly learned how. It sounds simple, but to me it was so important that I master such a foundational skill. It meant I could quickly and clearly convey what I saw exactly as I intended. And as my perspective changed, my art evolved alongside it, documenting the world always as I saw it. Those early experiences were profoundly educational.
Later, in a small coastal town far removed from city life, I was fortunate to discover mentors and artistic communities whose influence still resonates deeply in my work more than 40 years later. The foundational skills I honed as a portrait artist were enriched by these mentorships, transforming my approach from merely capturing images into telling meaningful stories. These lessons taught me to embrace uncertainty, keeping an open mind whenever I approach the canvas. Even today, I rarely know what I'll paint when I enter the studio. Sometimes, I start with clear intentions, but often, inspiration emerges spontaneously, forming organically like small galaxies on my canvas.
When I moved to the Yukon in the early 1980s, I finally discovered the wilderness I'd been seeking. Surrounded by vast, untouched landscapes, I knew I'd found my home. Naturally, my art shifted to reflect this connection. During my years living off-grid, painting became more than just a creative outlet; it became my way of documenting and preserving my life and the world around me. My work from this period is simple yet personal, filled with the colors, textures, and moods of the Yukon. They weren't just about capturing a scene—they were about capturing the essence of being there: the crisp smell of snow, the endless skies and the indifference of nature.
In recent years, I've found myself exploring a more contemporary direction in my art. While my earlier Yukon paintings aimed to capture a precise feeling of place and atmosphere, my newer works push beyond that, leaning into abstraction and structural experimentation. It's still deeply personal, informed by the wilderness and my surroundings, but I'm now more openly questioning, deconstructing, and reimagining these experiences. This shift hasn't replaced my earlier methods but more expanded them—leaving room to move between styles, blending the familiar with the unexpected, and embracing the unknown as part of my creative process.
Today, I find myself embracing every facet of my creative identity. I'm following each artistic impulse and consciously setting aside limiting beliefs. My paintings have developed greater structural depth, while my sculptures retain the same attention to texture and movement I've always valued. What excites me most now is the freedom I feel—not bound by any single style or medium. Each new piece presents its own unique challenge, inviting me to continually expand my creative horizons.
Art is never static; it grows alongside us, shaped by our experiences, the places we've been, and the stories we're compelled to tell. Looking forward, I know my work will keep evolving, and I welcome it. After all, the journey itself holds as much importance as any finished artwork.
This post offers just a glimpse into my ongoing artistic evolution. If you'd like a more intimate look at what I'm currently working on, I invite you to check out my latest newsletter, where I'll take you behind the scenes and share more about my creative process directly from my studio.
