Gillian Quinn (aka Gillian Cheesmond) - Artist Statement

Watercolour, Acrylic and Oil, Canmore and Calgary

Growing up in Durban, South Africa, I studied History of Art in high school, but never drew or painted. I began watercolour painting as a young adult. Travelling, immigrating to Calgary in 1981, raising two daughters, working part time as a social worker did not give me much time for painting.

In my later years, I began painting in acrylics which I thoroughly enjoy. For the past year I have been painting in oils, which is great too, although I am messier!

I am constantly observing the shapes, light and dark, and colour of nature – people, trees, mountains, rocks , clouds etc. But getting those images of what I observe onto a canvas is not as easy as I had thought! I do, however, keep on drawing and painting. It is what I do, what I enjoy.

I have participated in workshops with Mike Svob, Michael O Toole, Phillipa Hudson and Joan Sveen and many more. I continue to attend classes with Doug Swinton.