The common phrase "You look so much more pretty when you smile" is one often associated with the suppression of women's feelings, thoughts, ideas, and concerns. We are expected to smile and look pretty, rather than voice our concern or irritation at being belittled or insulted. This work flips that condescending and archaic phrase around to encourage women to express their ideas/emotions, rather than to be silenced and dismissed.

This piece was created during a classical portraiture workshop with Anahita Akhavan at Toronto School of Art. I was focused on specific techniques, and developing my skills. This work represents my motivation and drive to learn new techniques and apply them to my current work.

We blend into the background, and make decisions every day over what to reveal to others about ourselves. This painting portrays a woman showing nothing private, even though she seems exposed. It is not meant to be sexual, or provocative, but the opposite - to understand that you need to get to know a person, and what's not shown represents their character, not their sexuality.

People make judgements all the time. I am not a prostitute, stupid, poor, a second-class citizen, uneducated, a thief, a liar, a criminal, a white-supremacist, or a N!&#i. These labels are hurtful, and so wrong. I don't need my car egged because someone doesn't like who I support during the World Cup, to be accused of having the milk-man bring my baby, or to be approached and asked how much for the night. This piece is about how when society paints you out to be something you're not, to focus on who you are, and remain positive through the negativity.

A whimsical and fun look at love, hearts, and a bit of pink inspiration. Finding inspiration wherever you can is a great asset.

I love negative space. It shows a balance between what we're interested/involved in, and what is not part of our lives. What we choose not to be involved in, often shapes us as much as our involvement. This piece shows my colour choice representing happiness and excitement, and through my actions, putting that out into the world.

Inspired by The Roots song 'The Fire', this portrait displays the intrinsic fire within each of us. Following our hearts and dreams should never be stifled.

This portrait represents my love for reading. After moving 18 times before grade 9, life was anything but stable. I never kept friends because I moved so much, and reading was something that could be constant for me, wherever I was located. Even through difficult times, we can try to find an inspiring aspect of our lives.

Laughter at my wool tights under my pants, or traditional dresses as a child is something I will never forget. It was never ok to be Austrian, I learned to not talk about it for fear of hurtful comments. If I was a strong 10-year-old, I could have kept wearing those cultural clothes. I was not. I didn't want the harassment. The idea is, it is our choice to decide which traditions to keep, or to walk away from. I should never have been made to feel ashamed of my heritage.

The beauty of nature is difficult to capture. The colours are never bright enough, the shadowy spookiness is never quite right, and the interconnectedness seems impossible to portray. This dark forest is an attempt at the unhindered nature we briefly pass through.

‘Boston Sunrise’ is an ephemeral interpretation of renewal. Every day this brief light show begins each day anew, and often dazzles us with its beauty in colour, and variety. After two years of varying states of isolation, many of us are getting back to what we enjoy. A little natural inspiration from a brilliant sunrise is a repetitive reminder that tomorrow is a new day, and we can grow, adapt, and progress anew with each day that comes. There is always a new day that can represent hope and change for the better.

Driftwood focuses on the dead wood representing the burnt-out forests during WWII, the red water of war and intergenerational trauma, and the glimmer of hope that throughout all that violence, a tree can still transform into something beautiful.

This is an imagined tree, twisting with interactions, seemingly separate parts interconnected to create a whole. The beauty and complexity of nature.

This painting is born from many hikes over 20 years with by husband in Algonquin Park, from when we were dating, through to the present day with our kids.

A particularly warm Thanksgiving in Algonquin Park, and the beautiful sunset though the trees at the campsite with family.