A GIRL AND HER COYOTE

I was a feral child growing up, largely left to my own devices. I roamed through the land on my trusty horse Rusty, purchased when I was four and he was eleven. We spent hours exploring, checking if the flowers were blooming, if the wild berries were ripe, and keeping an eye out for baby animals. In the winter, riding bareback kept me warm and the adventures continued. The wilderness was my playground, the animals my companions.

30" x 30"

acrylic/oil on canvas

$1800

CHORES

Chores were an integral part of growing up on a farm. All children were expected to pitch in and help – a sanctioned form of child labour. Hauling water and feeding chickens were my normal tasks but I had to help out wherever needed. This included milking cows on occasion but generally that was left to the boys. It was a tough but necessary job and the reward was delicious fresh milk, thick rich cream and homemade butter.

20" x 20"

acrylic/oil on canvas

$800

CANADIAN GOTHIC

American Regionalism flourished after the Great Depression and lasted until the late 1940s. It was a realist modern art movement that focused on rural and small-town life in Mid-West America. One of the more famous paintings from that period was American Gothic painted by Grant Wood in 1930.

I don’t know if Mom was influenced by that painting when taking this photo but the comparison is certainly there. For my brother and me, it was just another day on the farm.

30" x 40"

acrylic/oil/oil stick on canvas

$2200

SELF-PORTRAIT WITH KITTENS

As we weather the current pandemic, I’ve been thinking a lot about my mother. Jenny Mabel Rottenfusser was born during World War I, grew up during the Great Depression and the Spanish Flu and married my father after he was discharged from the Air Force at the end of World War II. They homesteaded on a farm in central Alberta and poverty and hardship were a way of life. Money was short and film was precious, but Mom continued to document the world around her.

This period of self-isolation has allowed me the time and space to reflect on the resilience of the human spirit. Using Mom’s photos as a point of departure, I am exploring my roots and what it meant to grow up in postwar rural Alberta.

30" X 40"

acrylic/oil/oil stick on canvas

$2200

MOONSHADOW

In each stage of life, we are faced with challenges and adventures. In the Warrior years we leave the family nest and step out into the unknown to discover the world. During my warrior years, Moonshadow by Cat Stevens was an anthem. It was full of hope and assured us that if the moon was shining on us and we believed, then all things were possible. If one moon is good, then more should be even better and if you are accompanied by a faithful companion then every moment is rich and unique.

20" x 20"

acrylic/oil on canvas

$800

HERE KITTY KITTY!

The Halcyon Days of childhood are a time of curiosity and learning. A time filled with optimism and trust as one begins the Hero’s journey. Armed with the right weapons, the world is an exciting and wonderous place. (Note: this is also a memorial to Katje, the wonderful Calgary zoo tiger who passed away a few weeks ago and who was the model for this painting).

30" x 40"

acrylic/oil on canvas

$2200

THREE GRACES

The Three Graces are the mythological daughters of Zeus and Hera and represent among other things, splendor, good cheer and festivity. They preside over banquets and gatherings to delight the guests of the gods. Their main role was to bestow beauty, charm and goodness on young women and to give joy to people in general.

24" x 24"

acrylic/oil on canvas

$1150