Laura Stevens

“I paint for the joy of it. I love the satisfaction of dragging pigment across a blank canvas, to see how it can be molded into a being with spirit. I choose to paint animals that are iconic to Canadian culture, as a celebration of the land I live on. Abstracting these animals allows me to paint a snapshot of their energies, to grab a still glimpse of a subject that is so rarely still. I paint quickly and vibrantly, focusing on saturating the body with colour and line, juxtaposing that strength with a soft clear eye. I choose to pair bright neons with neutral overtones, hinting at the vibrancy that lays beneath the earthy tones of the animal’s fur. Every new piece is a new exploration, a process which I never tire of. Painting is my passion, and I am grateful everyday that I’ve been given this gift.”