Canadian artist Di was born in Vancouver in 1984 and graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Major in Archaeology. As a self-taught artist her style evolved through the exploration of using bright solid colors and flowing lines to reduce the endless detail of life into calming, simplistic beauty.
Di’s fine art features hand-painted acrylic on canvas, with special projects utilizing additional mediums such as photography and digital illustration. Her art has been shown in galleries throughout British Columbia and in private collections across North America. Recently she created three murals for the BC Children’s Hospital and her 2021 solo exhibition 'Art for Sea to Sky' raised funds and awareness for conservation initiatives in Howe Sound. Di works from her home studios in Victoria and on Bowen Island, where she is often found exploring land and sea with her husband, daughter and two dogs. Current works can be found at the Van Dop Gallery, Catching Stars Gallery, Brentwood Bay Resort or online at www.artbydi.ca
Artist Profile
Beauty of nature is the key inspiration behind Di’s contemporary west coast acrylic paintings. With a focus on light, color and movement Di seeks to reduce the endless detail of life into simple form and palette, allowing viewers’ imaginations to fill in details of time and place. The artist sees herself as a filter; passing images repeatedly through the lens of her mind as she translates the world around her.
Not bound by any school or tradition she simply creates what pulls at her heart until it is put down on canvas. Starting with a scene or composite image she peels back layers of detail, emboldens color and smooths shapes until she is ready to transfer onto canvas. By adding thin layers of a single acrylic color she builds until the medium is opaque yet smooth- showing the texture of the canvas below. Clean lines are achieved by a steady hand and are one of the most consistent features of her compositions.
Much of Di’s focus is on the unique species that inhabit the coastlines of British Columbia. Growing up on the west coast she has developed an intimate connection with forest, mountains, sea and the animals that call it home. She clearly conveys this reverence for nature in her paintings, highlighted by her commitment to bringing attention to nature conservation.
The artist lives and works on Bowen Island and in Victoria BC, Canada, part of the traditional territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Shíshálh, and Lək̓ʷəŋən First Nations.
CV
b. 1984, Canada
Solo Exhibitions
2021 Art for Sea to Sky, The Hearth Gallery, Bowen Island, BC
Duo Exhibitions
2018 The Art of Conservation, The Gallery @ Cove Commons, Bowen Island, BC
2014 Faces and Places, Bowen Island Arts Council Gallery, Bowen Island, BC
Group Exhibitions
2022 Artists for Conservation Annual Exhibition, VanDusen, Vancouver, BC
2022 Portraits of the Coast, Maplewood Nature Gallery, North Vancouver, BC
2021 Grizzly Bear: Teachers of the Land, Kelowna Art Gallery, Kelowna, BC
2021 Skeena Salmon Arts Festival, Terrace Art Gallery, Terrace, BC
2020 Grizzly Bear: Teachers of the Land, Bateman Foundation Gallery of Nature, Victoria, BC
2020 Group of Seven 100th Anniversary, Federation Gallery, Granville Island, BC
2020 Mini Gala, The Gallery @ Cove Commons, Bowen Island, BC
2020 Artist's Choice, Federation Gallery, BC
2020 FCA Postcard Competition, Federation Gallery, BC
2019 Summer Dreams, The Gallery @ Cove Commons, Bowen Island, BC
2019 Active Members Exhibition, Federation Gallery, Granville Island, BC
2018 Curtain Up!, The Gallery @ Cove Commons, Bowen Island, BC
2017 Bowen Collected, Bowen Island Arts Council Gallery, Bowen Island, BC
2017 Mini Gala, Bowen Island Arts Council Gallery, Bowen Island, BC
2016 Our Sea to Sky, Bowen Island Arts Council Gallery, Bowen Island, BC
2016 Signs of Spring, Bowen Island Arts Council Gallery, Bowen Island, BC
2016 Mini Gala, Bowen Island Arts Council Gallery, Bowen Island, BC
2015 Anonymous Art Show, North Vancouver Arts Council, North Vancouver, BC
2015 Juror’s Choice, The Ferry Building Gallery, West Vancouver, BC
Noteworthy Commissions
2023 Ocean Plastics Illustrations (Education Kit), Oceanwise, BC
2022 The Lost Bear, TBA, Canada
2021 Bowen Gateway Mural, Bowen Island Municipality, BC
2020 Safe in Starry Arms, Tellwell Publishing, BC
2019 Mural, BC Children's Hospital Sunny Hill Center, BC
2017 Two Murals, BC Children’s Hospital Teck Acute Care Center, BC
Grants & Awards
2021 Explore and Create: Concept to Realization Project Grant, Canada Council of the Arts, Canada
2021 Launch Online Grant, Alacrity, BC
2021 Silver Medal - Best Illustrated Children's Picture Book, Nautilus Book Awards, US
2020 Honorable Mention: FCA 2020 Postcard Competition, BC
2015 1st Place: Custom Crosswalk Design & Installation, Bowen Island, BC
Education
2009 Bachelor of Arts, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC
