Aquatic Tapestry

Mixed Media on deep edge Birchwood Cradle Board, 24” x 24”

This painting puts a few fish in the same body of water where you really might not see them together: rainbow trout, Northern pike, several kinds of sunfishes, and minnows. Dappled, patterned, this reminds me of a tapestry. My father was a trout fisherman. I grew up with sparkling rainbow trout in our kitchen sink when he came back from fishing trips. I was mesmerized by the beauty of their iridescent colours and spots, the cherry stripe running down the side of the rainbow trout. As I grew up, I learned more about these iconic Canadian fish and started to use them frequently in my artwork. As a symbol, they represent hope, love, and community. Fish also represent freedom of movement, change, transformation, determination, flexibility, being hidden beneath the surface.