Moira Carlson:Paintings

I was born and grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and I can't remember a time when I didn't know that I wanted to be an artist. Because eating regularly was important to me, I originally trained as an art teacher. I have a Bachelor of Education Degree with a Double Art Major in Painting and Graphics from the University of British Columbia. I also completed the Art in Merchandising Program at Vancouver City College. Over my career I have worked at a number of occupations, but the high points were my time as a teacher, trainer, writer, commercial artist, illustrator and fine artist. In the past few years, other than for small forays into teaching, I have been happily spending all of my time painting.

As a fine artist I have produced and sold pen and ink sketches, watercolors, silkscreen and digital prints, oils and acrylic paintings. These days I am particularly drawn to painting with acrylics and oils on canvas. I am a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists and of WomanMade Gallery, a non-profit organization supporting women in the arts.

As a graphic artist and illustrator I designed and illustrated books, magazine articles, newspaper ads, posters and greeting cards. My commercial career included everything from designing and illustrating Doodleart posters to producing logos, letterheads and marketing materials. I have written and illustrated numerous articles for gardening magazines and am the author and illustrator of two books, "The Tea Lover's Handbook" (Intermedia Press, 1980) and "Herbs For The Pacific Northwest" (Stellar Press, 2000).

I have always loved gardening and was a Master Gardener with the VanDusen Botanical Gardens program in Vancouver from 1992 until 2007. I completed their Advanced Training Program in 1997. From 2002 until 2006 I was involved with the VanDusen Education Program, teaching drawing, coloured pencil and watercolour courses and workshop sessions.

In the summer of 2007 my husband and I moved to Victoria, British Columbia. This new phase of my life is having an impact on my painting style and subject matter and I am excited to see where it will take me.