Doug Taplin grew up on a ranch along the South Saskatchewan River, where the surrounding landscape shaped both his upbringing and his art. Life on the Canadian prairies gave him a lasting respect for the land and its quiet presence. His work is influenced by the history of painting, especially early visual languages like cave art. He focuses on the instinct to create and connect with the natural world. His goal is to carry that raw energy into a modern context. Doug starts each series with a central idea and builds paintings around it. Most begin as drawings. His process is intuitive—he responds to the paint as it develops, using brushstrokes that suggest form rather than describe every detail. His paintings often contain multiple layers, though the surface may appear simple. He works primarily in oil on canvas, using a limited palette of white, black, ochre, and red. This minimal approach shapes his use of form, composition, and color. Through his work, Doug invites viewers to reconnect with something primal and to reflect on our relationship with the land.