LINDSAY DEW

ARTIST BIO

Lindsay Dew is a Canadian painter who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University, majoring in Fine Arts. Lindsay has also attended École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France. Her artwork has been exhibited both nationally and internationally.

Lindsay’s work has been selected for publications in both printed magazines and featured online. Lindsay has also participated in artist residency programs within Canada. Lindsay resides in Nelson, BC, Canada, a small mountain town where she is inspired daily by playing in the mountains year round with her family and friends. When she is not in the studio, Lindsay is an avid snowboarder in the winter months and then enjoys hiking trips to the alpine in the summer.

ARTIST STATEMENT

My upbringing of ever changing landscapes living in Canada and abroad has influenced me as a painter. In each body of work, I made I subconsciously revert back to painting landscapes, specifically mountainous ones. I later realized I was painting the landscape of my birth place, British Columbia, Canada. I love living and exploring mountain ranges which was transferring over into my studio practice. It was in this process, that I started to view Canadian history as being recorded and celebrate in its natural environment, where nature cannot cover up the truth. I felt as though these mountain layers I was creating, signified this documentation. I attempt to capture the emotional memory of a place rather than documenting it. My intuitive way of drawing the ridgelines are not with a specific location in mind. This process has allowed viewers to connect to pieces and recall their own personal experience, thus recalling their own connection to land.

The birth of my daughter ignited my artistic practice and drive. It pushed me in ways I had always dreamed of. After graduating from art school I worked in artist run centers supporting and promoting other artists while pouring nothing into my own practice. My inner critic had become my own worst enemy. I viewed everything superior to what I could ever produce. My ideas always seemed redundant and similar to work already created. This negative way of thinking, disabled me to the point of not producing artwork for a 4-5-year period, as life got, “too busy” which was always my response, my excuse.

During this hiatus, I did actually produce art but in a totally different way. I went and trained as an Art Therapist which had also been a passion of mine, working with children. This training required unlearning what I had learnt in art school as the focus of art therapy is the process not the product. Again my professional art practice fell by the wayside, something that I had always hope to ignite…one day.

Then pregnancy came. While I continued to work in my private practice of Art Therapy, my post session art was pouring out of me unlike ever before. My body was communicating all the changes currently happening and preparing me for the changes to come. This creative area of myself which I had neglected was starting to percolate. I decorated the nursery with paintings and sculptures I had intentionally created for the space and for my baby.

The arrival of my daughter came with a less than ideal birthing story, emergency C-section and complications but here we are thanks to western medicine. With this new journey and gift of being a mother, my artistic confidence grew in new ways while my creativity surged. It would keep me up at night even when I should have been sleeping, while I could with a new born. I was so happy to have this avenue pouring out of me again and this new found confidence that I attribute to experiencing motherhood. I had never felt more feminine, strong or blessed for this opportunity.

Motherhood also united my creativity with my professional practices. I feel modern day women literally have superpowers that come with this transformation. I have never been busier as a mom entrepreneur, producing new art collections on top of a full time private practice. This balance is a constant juggle however if you want something bad enough you will find a way to make it work. It has been 6 years since the birth of my amazing daughter and my confidence and creativity continues to flourish into my professional practices.

Website: www.lindsaydew.com
IG: @lindsaydewfinearts