MYRIAM ROUSSEAU’s journey with painting animals began in 2014, when she moved into her current home and studio. On a bare white wall, she envisioned an old bison, running in the snow, its beard and coat floating in the wind. From there her exploration of painting bison began. That exploration led to the Animals in Motion series. An outdoor and animal lover, Myriam is filled with wonder over the immensity and beauty of nature. It sparks a deep sense of gratitude and awe that she portrays in every canvas. In early childhood, Myriam watched her grandmother practice Sumi-e and Ikebana (Japanese ink art and flower arranging), two ancient art forms that aim to capture the essence or “life spirit” of the subject, using minimal brush strokes and lines, where less, is more. This minimalism and process continue to influence her work today.“Before beginning any painting, I connect with the animal, see the animal, its expression and energy in my mind’s eye. Almost as if to blend myself with the canvas, a sort of calm focus takes over me. My brush moves with a sense of urgency to translate the life, or “spirit” of the animal onto the canvas. It’s a kind of meditation or silent oneness. As thoughts arise, I pause to step back, and wait again until the coast is clear.”In her latest series, Myriam paints animals in motion, passionate about conveying the vitality of each of these amazing forms of life. As a former dancer, she is continuously inspired by the strength, grace and fragility of the body. On her canvas, the essence of these beautiful animals is captured.Myriam studied Fine Arts at Laval University and at Claude Watson School for the Arts. She also studied dance at the National Ballet School of Canada and later at l ’École de danse contemporaine in Montreal. She donates 3% of her sales to chosen organizations throughout the year. Myriam was born in Quebec City, but calls Montreal home.