Our humanity is coupled to our connection to nature. My work explores the unique forms and colours of nature and how they are an integral part of our lives. Capturing the energy in dynamic lines or communicating calm water, the visual is simplified to the barest elements; simplified but multi-layered to communicate the true complexity of our relationship with nature. The main theme always reflects nature’s subtleties and how we are intrinsically a part of this. The large format works encourage viewers to be encompassed by nature and to be more thoughtful of their place within it.The decision to work in an abstract manner has been a natural progression as I started to transition the colour and pattern of photography from formative to abstract compositions. The result is that the viewer experiences abstracted versions of flowers, landscape and seascapes.Working solely with a palette knife, I work to infuse my paintings with energy and playfulness; mixing the paint directly on the canvas to create unexpected results. I work in acrylics so that I can more easily manipulate the surface and layers of paint, building colours and patterns, overlapping bold and complementary colours. Working flat, I actively move around the piece, ensuring that the piece works from all sides. I use a resin epoxy coating to increase the depth and dimension of the work, allowing the viewer to be reflected in, and therefore a part of the work.My creative influences are the Claude Monet’s Water Lilies, the Group of Seven, specifically Tom Thompson’s work using complementary colours in the underpainting and Jean Paul Riopelle – the Montreal-based artist who captured raw energy in his large canvases, using multiple colours simultaneously on his palette knife.