A Little About Me

I was raised in northern Quebec and spent my childhood exploring the wild and remote environment it had to offer. That has never left me. Whether it is hikes in the back forest around my home or exploring the beauty in my travels around the world or working in my garden, nature plays an integral role in my artwork. Art school in Montreal was followed by over 25 rewarding years as a professional ceramicist. Two aspects of my career, apart from the actual creating, have also been fulfilling. Teaching and presenting in Asia, Europe, the USA and across Canada, have been so rewarding. As well, taking part in residencies with the opportunity of working with fellow artists around the world, has informed my work and brought me such joy. I have been honoured with awards and grants, recognized in publications and books and have enjoyed being interviewed on tv and radio.

I feel very thankful to have my work in collections and museums in Canada and around the world. 

 I am a life long volunteer. I have sat on many boards over the years and continue to volunteer with art and climate organizations. I am currently on the board of the Artists Network in Toronto and serve as co-chair at the Leslie Grove non profit gallery.

Since 2014, I have put my energies into painting atmospheric abstracted landscapes created with oil and cold wax, (a perfect medium to produce  the texture and depth I want in my paintings). This thick and juicy material allows me to create translucent and luminous layers, which are integral to my atmospheric paintings.

I hope you enjoy viewing my paintings as much as I enjoy making them.

I haven’t always been a painter…

I was a ceramic artist for almost 40 years and it has been a great ride.  I  have met and worked with so many terrific organizations and individuals throughout my career and have had so many opportunities to explore that sensual material ......clay.  

It has taken me around the world, teaching and working and I have met and made some of my best friendships through this incredible medium.  Although I am now painting and no longer working in clay I thought I would post a few of my past gas and wood fired ceramics here, too. This era of my career still resonates with me and plays a part of my aesthetics to this day. 

Painting began to absorb more of me so I decided to focus solely on Oil and Cold Wax, in which I am now completely challenged and engaged.

In 2012 I discovered Silver Metal Clay and was immedialtely hooked. I explored Precious Metal Clay jewellery for many years and loved working with this amazing material.

  • For those of you who are detail oriented, my CV is below. 
    Or - in a nutshell, art has been my life's work.  Over the years I have worked with four different materials: Clay, Textiles, Silver and Paint.
    I been featured in a wide variety of media and taught and exhibited in Europe, Asia, the USA and in much of Canada. 
    I have sat on many boards.  Public and private collections, including museums, have purchased my work.  I have been
    represented in many galleries. I feel so fortunate for all of the wonderful things that my art career has brought me.

  • 2023                  Photo Art Annual Exhibition, Honourable Mention, Halton Hills, ON.

                             Artsy Shark, Featured Artist, Artsyshark.com

    2018                AMCAW – Alliance of Metal Clay Artists Worldwide, International Juried Show Certificate of Merit.

    2017                Photo Art Annual Exhibition, Honourable Mention.

                           Arts Alive Award – Patron of the Arts, Awarded every five years, Halton Hills ON.

    2009                John Sommer Regional Juried Art Exhibition, Best Sculpture Award

    2007                 John Sommer Regional Juried Art Exhibition, Best Three-Dimensional Artwork.

    2006                John Sommer Regional Juried Art Exhibition, Best Three-Dimensional Artwork.

    2005                 John Sommer Regional Juried Art Exhibition, Best Three-Dimensional Artwork.

                            John Sommer Regional Juried Art Exhibition, Purchase Award.

    2001                Arts Alive, Visual Artist Award, Awarded once each five years, Halton Hills, ON.  

    2000                 Lady Flavelle Award, Ontario Crafts Council.

    1999                 Ontario Arts Council Grant.

    1998                 Operation Warmth, Warm Person Award, City of Toronto, ON.

    1995                 Pottery Award, Here and Now Juried Art Show, Halton Hills, ON.

    1993                 Honourable Mention, Here and Now Juried Art show, Halton Hills, ON.

    1984                 Pottery Award, Best Clay in Show IMAGE '84, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton, ON.

                           Honourable Mention Nathan Phillips Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto, ON.

    1983                 Award of Excellence Ontario Crafts Council Juried Exhibition, Toronto, ON.

    1982                 Full Scholarship Banff School of Fine Arts, Banff, AB.

  •    2020 – 2022     Cold Wax Academy, Online Learning, USA.

                2014 – 2015     Levels 1 and 2, Metal Clay Certification, USA.

                2006                 Artist In Residence, Kecskemet, Hungary.

                2004                 Kanayama Ceramic Residency, Goshogawara, Japan.

                2002                 Presenter, Aomori International Wood Fire Festival, Goshogawara, Japan.

                2000                 Independent Residency, Banff Centre for the Arts, Banff AB.

                1998                 BC Women’s Tozan firing.

                1985 - pres.      National and International Conferences and residencies.

                1984                 The University of Western Ontario, Painting and Drawing.

                1982                 Banff School of Fine Arts, Design Symposium.

                1980 - 1981      John Abbott College, Montreal. Ceramics Program.

                1972 - 1974      Algonquin College, Ottawa, Early Childhood Education.

  • 2020                 Stella’s Studio, Cameos, Multicultural TV, Featured Artist.

                2013                 Fusion Magazine

                2010                 Arabella Magazine, Featured Artist to Collect

                2009                 Sideroads Magazine, Feature Article.

                2005                 Fusion Magazine.

                2004                 The Complete Potter, Steve Mattison.

                2003                 500 Bowls, Lark Books.

                2002                 500 Teapots, Lark Books.                                 

                1999                 Contact.  Ceramics, A Canadian Perspective, Winter, Feature article and cover.

                1997                 Contact Magazine, Fall.

                                        Fusion Magazine, Fall.

                                        Life Television network, Craftscapes.                 

                1996                 Toronto Star Newspaper.                                                                      

                1994                 CKVR TV, Brownstone Kids.

                1993                 Studio Potters Network, Fall Issue.

                1992 - 1996      Fusion Magazine.

                 1988                 Toronto Magazine, April Issue.

                1985                 A La Carte Magazine.

  •             2018                 Jewellery Making 8 week course, Williams Mill, Georgetown, ON.

                 2017                 St. Lawrence College, 1 week course, Brockville ON.

                2015                 Red Door Gallery, Presenter, How to Photograph your Work, Georgetown, ON.

                2013                 La Meridiana International School, 2-week course, Florence, Italy.

                2006                 Deep River Potter’s Guild, 5-day hands on, Deep River, ON.

                2005                 Canadore College, Decorating workshop, North Bay, ON.

                                        Ontario Crafts Council Annual Conference, Presenter.

                                        Stony Creek Potter’s Association, Edmonton, AB.          

                2003                 University of Southern Colorado, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA.

                2002                 Aomori International Wood Fire Festival, Presenter, Goshogawara, Japan.

                2002                 Richmond Potters, Hands on workshop, Vancouver BC.

                2001                 Richmond Potters, Hands- on workshop, Vancouver BC.

                                        Various Guild presentation Vancouver B.C.

                                        Pickering Potters Guilds, Hands- on weekend workshop, Pickering, ON.

                                        Kawartha Potters Guild, Weekend workshop, Peterborough, ON.

                2000                 Burlington Potter’s Guild, Weekend Workshop, Burlington, ON.

                1999                 Hill Potters Guild, Lecture, Richmond Hill, ON

                1998                 Toronto Potters’ Guild, Lecture, Toronto, ON

                1998                 Ottawa Guild of Potters and Richmond Hill Potters Guild, Weekend workshops.

                1997 - 1999      Halton Hills Potter's Guild, Halton Hills, ON. Advanced Throwing Classes.

                                        Sheridan College, School of Design, Guest Lecturer, Marketing, Oakville, ON.

                1994 - 1999      Adult hand building classes, Clay Concepts Studio. Glen Williams, ON.

               

  •   2023                 Headwaters Fall Festival Juried Show, Alton, ON

                                           Fine Art Society Milton, Juried Art Show, Milton ,ON

                                        Headwaters Arts Juried show, Relaunch, Alton, ON

                                        Headwaters Arts Juried show, Dark Into Light, Alton ON

                                        Halton Hills PhotoArt Exhibition, Halton Hills, ON

                                        Kingsway Lambton Art Show, Toronto, On

                                        Pop-up show, Jonathon’s gallery, London, ON

                 2022                  Arts on the Credit,  Fall Tour, Port Credit, ON               

    2020                 Arts on the Credit Virtual Gallery, Port Credit, ON

                2017                 Red Door Gallery, 4 person-show, Georgetown, ON

                                        Wearable Art Show, Oakville, ON

                2013                 2 Person Show, Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery, London ON.

                2013 – 2018     Arts on the Credit Fall Show, Port Credit, ON.

                2011 – 2012     Dundas Studio Tour, Dundas, ON.

                2011                 Matter of Clay, Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery, London, ON.

                2007 – 2024     Limberlost Studio Tour, Huntsville, ON.

                            1001 Pots, Val David, PQ.

    2006                 Hamilton and Region Guild of Potters, Biennial Exhibition, Dundas, ON.

                                        John Sommer Juried Regional Arts Exhibition, Halton Hills, ON.

    Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery National Invitational Clay Exhibition, Matter of Clay London, ON.

                                        International Juried Orton Cone Box Show, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.

                2005                 International Chawan Exhibition, Art of The Teacup, Brussels, Belgium.

                                        John Sommer Juried Regional Arts Exhibition. Halton Hills, ON.

                2004                 Halton Hills Artsweek Juried Exhibition. Georgetown, ON.

                                        Hamilton and Region Potter’s Guild Annual Juried Show. Dundas, ON.

                2004                 Williams Mill Gallery Invitational,10th Anniversary Exhibition, Glen Williams, ON.

                2002                 International Juried Orton Cone Box Show, Kansas City, U.S.A.

                2001                 Gallery of BC Ceramics, Wood fired exhibition. 1 X 6 Vancouver, BC.

                1991 - 2004      Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto, ON

                1999                 Group exhibition, Fushan Ceramic Museum, China.

                                        Two Woman Show, The Williams Mill Gallery, Glen Williams, ON.

                1998                 Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, Featured Artist, Gallery Shop, Waterloo, ON.

                                        Fusion Fireworks Biennial Juried Exhibition, Travelling Exhibition.

                                        Solo exhibition, 1111 Clay Works, Ottawa, ON.

                1997                 2-person exhibition, Homer Watson Gallery, Waterloo, ON.

                                        Solo exhibition, George R.  Gardiner Museum Shop, Toronto, ON.

                                        Solo Exhibition, Harbinger Gallery, Waterloo, ON.

  • 2023                  Director, Artist Network, Toronto ON

                            Co-chair of Leslie Grove Gallery

     

    1991 – 2022     Williams Mill Visual Arts Centre 

     

    2013 – 2016     Halton Hills Cultural Round Table 

                              Board Member

    2016 – 2017     Vice Chair

                              

     

    2014 – 2017     Red Door Gallery, Non-Profit Public Art Gallery, Georgetown, ON                                                            Board Member

                           

                 2003 - 2006       Halton Hills Arts week, Non profit organization 

                                           Chairperson.

               

                2007-2008        Ontario Crafts Council   Board of Directors

                 2002 - 2003      Fundraising committee.

                 1982 -2020       Member.

                 2004 - 2007      Hamilton and Regional Potters’ Guild. Executive, Education

               

                1980 - 1998       Fusion, The Ontario Clay and Glass Association.

                1997 - 1998      Director of New Programs.

                1993 - 1995      Director of Education.

                1993                 Director of Publications .

                1992 - 1997      Re:Vision: Arts Unlimited, Halton Hills, ON .Member.

                1992 - 1993      Founding Member and President

               

                 2000                American Potters Council Membership Committee.

                           

                1994-2003        The Williams Mill Artists Association.

                1994- 2003       Executive of Artists’ Association

                1994 -1996       Chair of Artists’ Association.

  •    Museum of Unusual Musical Instruments, Kecskemet, Hungary

                Goshogawara City Museum, Japan.

                Fushan Ceramic Museum, China.

                Fusion, The Ontario Clay and Glass Association.

                The Town of Halton Hills. Permanent Collection

                Many private collections throughout Canada and the United States.

  • These are galleries that have carried my work in the past.  I am currently represented by Jonathons in London, ON.

    Art Gallery of Burlington, Burlington, ON

    London Regional Art Gallery, London, ON

    Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery, London, ON

    Ontario Craft Council, Toronto, ON

    Canadian Class and Glass Gallery, Waterloo, ON

    Petroff Gallery – A Show of Hands, Toronto, ON

    Red Door Gallery, Georgetown, ON

    Williams Mill Visual Arts Centre, Glen Williams, ON.

    Hiberna Gallery, Ottawa, ON.

    Harbinger Art Gallery, Waterloo, ON.

    Fusion Clay and Glass Gallery, Toronto, ON.

    The Village Potter, London ON.