While attending Fine Arts classes at the University of British Columbia, I had the great fortune of having Toni Onley as an instructor and on occasion, Jack Shadbolt as a guest lecturer. As a youthful artist I could only begin to grasp their focus and determination to extract the essence of micro environments. In image after image Onley and Shadbolt persevered to describe the energy and complexity of their chosen environments until the perfect balance was achieved.

Now, as a mature artist, I reflect back on their instruction and realize how it has profoundly influenced my art. The interplay of colours and shapes, the constant movement of the elements and the dance of light and shadow are important components of my paintings. When I go about putting brush and paint to canvas I peel away superfluous shapes and shading. I am compelled to describe a chosen landscape or natural form with the essence of the pulsing, positive energy that connects us to all things.