wunderland (German): won·der·land | \ ˈwən-dər-ˌland , -lənd\ 1 : an imaginary place of delicate beauty or magical charm 2 : a place that excites admiration or wonder; a scenic wonderland
Since I was young, I have always been captivated by complex and independent female characters in film. There is something enchanting about movies and television that take me on a journey, especially if the storyline is unique and the characters quirky. In this series of 30 portraits, painted over the course of 30 days, I focused on unapologetic female characters who have helped me appreciate the unique qualities that make me who I am. I had a lot of options to choose from, but narrowed it down to the thirty that drew my attention the most.
I specifically chose June, the month of my birth, to celebrate the end of my previous body of work and the beginning of summer. Through this process, I learned that self-criticism never truly goes away, but I also reinforced my love of working in series and how taking small steps can lead to great accomplishments. The support I received in-person and online, as always, helped to keep me motivated.
Picking a favorite portrait is difficult because I am drawn to each piece for different reasons - sometimes it is the character or quote, and other times it is the composition, colour or contrast. But if I had to choose, I think I lean towards Margot Tenenbaum for her expression. At times, I can relate to how she feels.
The portraits are all painted on 8x10 gallery depth canvases.
"Dr. Julia Ogden" Featured in the Murdoch Mysteries Exhibition THEMUSEUM, Kitchener, ON November 2022- February 2023