Inspired by the natural abundance living the “Lake life” in the Ottawa Valley. One of my favourite pastimes, besides walking in the forest, is to check out local thrift stores, antique shops and look for oddities - like old decoys. In my search for decoys, I often find treasures, discounted and often neglected.
I've taken the idea behind theJapanese art form of kintsugi - I repair and restore wooden carvings and give them new life. And like this method, instead of hiding damage, I accept the imperfections, give the carvings a new paint job and try to keep part of its history and enhance its beauty.
The best part of these art pieces is that I feel it's culturally relevant to Canadian and Indigenous history. Old duck and waterfowl decoys can be seen as cultural Canadian artifacts representing an almost forgotten skill set and underrated artform.
Simultaneously, my painted ducks can bring awareness about bird species and offer the audience some curiosity to learn more - about nature, our environment and ecosystems.