Meet Christie
Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Christie is a self-taught artist who began her artistic journey at 50, during the pandemic. Her stylized still life & landscape work is influenced by her background in beauty, fashion, advertising & writing, reflecting her love of both aesthetics & story-telling, & captivating collectors across North America. From her home studio in Toronto, ON, she aims to create work with emotional resonance, echoing her conviction that art is an essential record-keeper of humanity.
ON Still Life…
“As a self-taught artist, I weave together a variety of materials and techniques, including acrylic, oil, ink, graphite, and grease pencil, creating vibrant still life compositions. Central to my art are themes of memory and potential, embodied by recurring motifs of vases, flowers and fruit, which serve as poignant metaphors simultaneously containing the entirety of history and all future possibilities.
Vases captivate me as forms and as abstract containers of stories and experiences. Fruits symbolize the seeds of growth and renewal, and flowers suggest both fragility and impermanence. Together, these elements mirror the human experience. The slightly sketchy, unresolved parts of my work invite contemplation and personal interpretation.”
On Landscapes…
Drawing inspiration from the diverse landscapes of Canada of my youth, I am fascinated by the relationships we form with each other and our surroundings. The tapestry of my art is interwoven with both personal connections and a larger exploration of our collective history. and a desire to express the beauty and complexity of the world. I aim to evoke emotions, engaging viewers in the intricate shapes, patterns and textures around us. Ultimately, my art is an expression of my inner world. It is a reflection of my memories and my connections to people, places and my past.
I love the richness of oil paints. A combination of traditional and contemporary techniques, incorporating brushwork, palette knives, and unconventional tools, creates balance between realistic detail and expressive gestures. A sense of peace and serenity is characteristic of my work, which includes just enough ambiguity to encourage viewers to explore their own interpretations. Reflection is a recurrent motif, inspiring meaningful contemplation and a deep connection with each piece. I strive to capture the essence of life's complexities and its’ inherent beauty through an exploration of the themes of nature, place, and the shared human experience.
“I find solace in the vastness of landscapes and the pull of personal history. My work is a visual diary, engaging viewers in the intricate textures and patterns of the world around us. Capturing the beauty and complexity of nature, my paintings are characterized by a balance between realistic detail and expressive gestures; bold, harmonious colour palettes; and the striking interplay of light and reflection.”