Artist Profile
I am a multi-disciplinary expressive artist, interested in various forms of artistic expression such as painting, music, drama, movement, storytelling and writing. I am a trained Expressive Arts Psychotherapist, obtaining my Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, California. I have also taught courses in Free Expression painting and Creativity at Hollyhock on Cortes Island and the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. I enjoy working with ancient archetypes, mythical creatures, and the magic of alchemy. In the domain of painting, my work is impressionistic, figurative and abstract. My recent works incorporate multi-colored metal leaf as a backdrop for acrylic images and the sensation of movement through the natural elements of earth, air, water, fire and spirit. I am fascinated with creating illumination, visual experiences of refracted light and texture. I like to work big, using my whole body in the painting experience and giving the observer lots to take in on multiple levels of consciousness. I enjoy the integration of my professional life and love of art making. My work has been shown in galleries in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and San Francisco, California.
Biography
I was born in Montreal, Quebec. During my formative years, I was greatly influenced by my grandfather Emile Dezeure, a Flemish artist from Antwerp, Belgium. Creativity in all forms was highly valued in my family, be it music, dance, writing or painting. My parents moved to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where I grew up. My first degree was from the University of Saskatchewan, in Business Administration. For many years, I worked in Human Resources for an international company and travelled extensively. In my 40’s I shifted my interests towards the Fine Arts, inspired creatively by Julia Cameron and “The Artist’s Way” and Michelle Cassou “Free Expression Painting.” I completed my Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Fine Arts, published a book on creativity and then went to San Francisco to undertake a Master’s Degree in Expressive Arts Counselling from the California Institute of Integral Arts (CIIS). I have taught a variety of art courses at the University of Saskatchewan and have continued to develop my own artistic interests while maintaining a private counselling practice. I live in Victoria where I divide my time between my private practice and art making. I have been a member of the Gage Arts Collective and sat on their Board of Directors.
I currently display my art in a variety of venues, have had several solo shows and have participated in group shows. I am the mother of 4 lovely sons and have one beautiful granddaughter.
Artist Statement
My current interests include the exploration of illumination using multi-coloured metallic foils and their interplay with shapes and images, as well as the felt sense of movement through the Natural Elements of Earth, Air, Water, Fire and Spirit. I like to evoke a sense of magic, mystery, and whimsy. My creative process is intuitive, each step revealing itself spontaneously. I have learned to abandon over-planning and simply trust moment-by-moment inner guidance; it leads me gently and amusingly to the next surprise. There is often a theme of transformation or revelation appearing which is evocative and leaves the observer fully in charge of their response.
It is a satisfying integration of my counselling profession and the arts.
