I absolutely love to draw anything that has an oriental theme.
I hope that one day my husband and I can travel to Japan and China.
I thought that the olive green handmade Italian paper would be an affective way to represent the lush foliage of a Japanese garden without using any color.
Usually I prefer to work only in black and white. To bring The Japanese Garden to life I used three different mediums, pencil, pencil crayon and pen & ink. I added splashes of color to catch the eye.
In keeping with the Japanese theme, David completed the piece with a simple black and red mat and frame treatment.

As we turn back the pages and travel down the long historical road, we can see how aboriginal cultures all over the world have lived hand and hand with nature.
We all enjoy the advancements of technology and the creature comforts that go along with our modern lifestyles. Unfortunately, there is a down side that goes along with all this.
If we look around us we can see how our natural resources are diminishing. It doesn't take much to affect the precariously balanced ecosystem of our planet. We are all so caught up in finding work and making the all mighty dollar to servive and are becoming very stressed in the process, that we have forgotten about the beauty that is right before us. This beauty is a true gift because it has been given to us to enjoy at no cost.
I created All That is Nature to remind us, myself included, that material things are of human creation. If you really think about it they are quite insignificant. They are here today and can easily be gone tomorrow. Mother earth with all her gifts has been here alot longer then we have and will be here long after we are gone.
I hope one day human kind can learn to live with her without destroying all that she has to offer, as our ancient predecessors have.

Several years ago I used to have a fish tank. After a hard daze work I would just sit in front of it and watch my angelfish. It was a great way to relax.
With Sea Escape I wanted to create that same relaxing feeling but with a surrealistic twist.
When we go under water we leave this world and enter an entirely different one. That is why Sea Escape has an entrance and an exit. I added hints of color to the drawing with pencil crayon to carry you around my underwater world.
In 2002 I entered Sea Escape in our local fall fair. I was very flattered that it received first prize. I have always enjoyed sharing my work with others.

People often ask me why I don't do more Native American art work. I guess the reason for this is that I don't want my work to have one particular theme.
"Variety is the spice of life!" For me, the same rule applies to art.
Even though I use the same mediums and methods to do my drawings, the subject matter is limited only by my imagination.
For years I watched my grandma Christina do beautiful bead work. This was the inspiration behind The Native Flower.
I thought a vase full of colorful beaded medallion flowers would be an interesting twist on the Native theme.

I remember when I was in high school my art teachers would tease me for drawing log cabins all the time.
I love the rustic beauty of British Columbia. So when I create a drawing that is inspired by nature, I will often include a cabin.
However, there is one small difference with my cabins. Rather then cutting down our beautiful forests to provide housing for us. My cabins actually grow out of the tree and are firmly rooted in mother earth. That sure seems like a warm and secure home to me.
Now, imagine how beautiful a whole village of tree cabins nestled in a lush green valley would be.