Artist Statement

I grew up on the West Coast in Vancouver, BC, and began mastery of the basics so I could stretch the rules later on. Fortunate to have renowned Canadian artist James Picard as a mentor, I studied oils, acrylics, sculpture, drawing and more.

As I enter my sixteenth year as a creator, now near the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, I’ve come to realize it’s about embracing my initial mistakes, as they’re what gives a work of art its soul, what sets one work apart from others. The removal of what may be valuable intuitions also removes genius.

I paint to gain a better understanding of myself. It’s always been a journey of self-exploration, to see if I can capture both the essence of an object as well as my own. So much is revealed during the long hours spent creating. You’re able to dive deep into the ocean of your own inner workings and each subject matter. With each discovery comes recovered clarity that you didn’t know you’d lost.

Creating is much more than a career, it’s a way of life. If you focus on the money, the work suffers. One with the flow of what wants to come through is the most liberating feeling, a high I will chase my whole life.

— SARAZEN