There’s something about painting for a solo exhibition that feels both grounding and expansive. I’ve been spending long days—and evenings—in my studio here in the Laurentians, working steadily toward LINGER, my upcoming exhibition at Wall Space Gallery in Ottawa (July 10 to 26).
This new body of work has taken shape slowly, sometimes gently, and sometimes with bursts of restless energy. There’s a rhythm to it, one that reflects the inner state I’ve found myself in over the past year: a kind of holding space, where memories linger and meaning unfolds at its own pace.
A sneak peek of a new piece titled Found Time that will be included in my upcoming exhibition.
The title, LINGER, came to me early on. It felt right. These paintings are rooted in reflection—on what we carry with us, what we leave behind, and how we mark the passing of time. There’s nostalgia in them, but not sadness. More like a quiet awareness. A noticing.
I’ve been playing with new colour combinations: soft pinks and greys, olive greens, muted blues, and the occasional burst of something brighter. These aren’t planned choices—they come from an intuitive place. As I layer paint, I find myself returning to familiar shapes: little houses, winding paths, moments between people or animals, caught mid-gesture. I’m asking questions as I paint: What makes a place feel like home? What does it mean to belong?
A glimpse at the color palette used in The Long Way.
Some of these paintings are more abstract. Others include figurative hints—a dog, a tree, a figure bending to play with a dog. Each piece holds a story, though I try not to spell it out. I want viewers to bring their own meanings, to find something personal in the marks and colour fields.
Who can you spot in the details of Our Idyllic Little Life?
Preparing for this show has been a way to centre myself after a long stretch of change. Loss. Travel. A shifting sense of where—and what—“home” is. Through it all, painting has offered me a kind of quiet clarity. It doesn’t fix anything. But it allows space to feel. And sometimes, that’s enough.
If you’re in Ottawa this July, I’d love to see you at the gallery.
LINGER exhibition
July 10 to 26
Wall Space Gallery
1090 Bank Street
Ottawa, ON Canada K1S 3X5
Vernissage on Saturday, July 12, 3–5 PM
I’ll be giving a short artist talk at 3:45
Hope you’ll come by and say hello—and maybe pause for a moment in front of something that invites you to linger, too.