I am on the road of exploration of the Canadian landscape art that began with the Group of Seven (and those preceding them) to these days when Canadian landscape paintings are being reviewed, revisited, and enchanting a new generation of artists and public all over again.
 
What makes the Canadian landscape different and why do I paint it even though it has been, is and will be painted so much by so many people? Why is it so unbearably seductive, addictive, delightful, gets under one's skin forever?
 
My thoughts take me beyond the "treeness" and "typical landscapeness" to the "beyondness" which I think is the essence of this place. That is something that I wasn't able to comprehend when I first immigrated to Canada – to the point that I wasn't really even seeing it. Coming from a part of world where the nature is tamed, either beautified or destructed, seeing wild things needed an entirely different pair of eyes. If one is used to looking for pre-composed, they will most likely miss paying attention to what appears on a first glance to be misfit shapes and even wondering "where is the nice stuff"… ignoring what really is the treasure of the nature. The point of view needs to be readjusted to see and feel everything, from things subtle, to implausible sometimes even frightening.
 
For me, Canadian Landscape has this additional ingredient of oddness, abundance of things unexpected and stunning. Who would have thought that rock or branch, or fallen trunk could have that particular shape and position? How is that color of bark or sand possible? The effects of fog, the play of sun on the mountain slope, the doings of storms and forest fires, countless conditions that make up our landscape. It all composes itself into great surprising patterns which burn into our minds and hearts.
That's what I must paint!