Artists

"I am an Indo-Canadian artist whose internationally-renowned work explores the vast landscape of the human experience. Based in Ottawa, Canada, I create imaginative paintings characterized by emotional coloration and dynamic forms. Each tells a compelling story about what it means to be alive in the world today. I am inspired by the splendor of nature and more of its changing appearance. My process of painting is expressive and visceral. I am always on the lookout for new ideas and inspirations. Tulips and the Queen of Night flowers are my favourite flowers. They take me to that wonderful space where I can be with my instincts and inner self. My paintings of the trees in Vancouver Island are from my recent trip in that area. I love to paint emotions on the canvas rather than painting a picture. And I enjoy narrating a story on my canvas using bright colors and multiple layers of paint. I aim to paint colorful compositions that speak to diverse audiences on a personal level."

Susan Reiter is a native of Moncton, New Brunswick and graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a BA and B.Ed. She moved to Ottawa over 40 years ago and now lives with her family in Kanata, Ontario. She has been painting for over 30 years and has taught art from her home studio to adults and children for the past 20 years. Susan paints with acrylics, oils, watercolour, and mixed media. Growing up in Atlantic Canada, she has a love for water scenes but her real passion is painting birds and scenes from nature. Her style is detailed and realistic with regards to subjects from nature but despite that she does enjoy abstract compositions.

“My work begins with immersive experiences within the natural world, and the motion of the butterfly is part of my visual language. The creatures are metaphors for transformation and crossing other worlds. When I am fully immersed in nature, using all my senses, I feel a part of some mysterious, beautiful world, grounded, fulfilled, and transformed. The work is an expression of that experience. Plein air drawing, biology, philosophy, and poetry all play an integral part in the creation of my work. As I learn new things, I am changed.”

Clifford is from Whiteway and was educated here in Newfoundland. His interest in painting started while growing up in rural Newfoundland and travelling daily exploring our rivers and valleys and studying nature’s many moods. His love for nature is the original inspiration behind his desire to paint. Clifford works in watercolours, acrylics and print making. Clifford travels across his Newfoundland studying the old homesteads of a departed time. His show “Presence of Absence”, in 2012 was a metaphor for keeping faith with a departed time for which there are no known contemporary witnesses. The sketches lead to coloured studies which lead to larger paintings until his soul reaches the end result. He looks at his sketches as composing his thoughts from within.

As an aspiring young artist, Sofie Stevens finds that life is a painting, where every experience is akin to a brush stroke, adding a new layer of meaning for the artist every time. After graduating with an honours bachelor’s degree from the University of Ottawa, she pursued a Master of Arts, thereby reinforcing that there is always more to learn. Inspired by Pablo Picasso, Sofie always tries to remain a bit naïve in her own paintings and has experimented with a variety of mediums with her heart finally set on oil on canvas. She often volunteers at fundraising events in support of various charities such as Interval House of Ottawa and the Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign. As Picasso once said, “It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.” Sofie does not want to lose her inner child, and hopes that comes through in magical ways in her art.