In 2016 I picked up a sketchbook and a HB pencil with the intention of trying–really trying–to create art.
I started small and showed the people who love me, looking for their encouragement. Next, I drew for an acquaintance, their request was to recreate a personal photo as wall art. With that success, I received more requests, commissions to recreate low quality photo reproductions into large portraits.
Leaning into what began to feed my soul, I created business cards to disperse for Picture To Pencil (a burgeoning business name), and by then I had graduated from Hb Pencil into graphite and colour pastels. I’ve since added practice with clay and epoxy, watercolour, and now acrylic paints.
My artist journey truly began with writing. The creation of my Children’s Illustrated Picture book’s, the One Lucky Teddybear series, tested and pushed me to expand every artistic skill. After I published my full colour series (Falling, Sideways, and LoopyDoo), I also began creating photographic artcards to sell at the Farmers markets, along with handmade felt Teddy bears (an addition to the books).
I began creating larger images, now displayed at Calgary, Kensington’s JMAC Studio (Original Tropic of Birch, Original Framed Spectrum and Original Framed Ethereal). Those canvases have created request for quality reproductions, now available here for order and delivery on my webstore, LjiSTORE.
Artists in my life who inspire me: Cait Helten, Carol James, my MIL Shirley Iverson (RIP), and a long time ago in St. Albert, Jeanne Maloney with her stories books and soup (RIP).