artist statement

As both a biologist and an artist, I feel that we are very much part of nature, and am very aware of the wonder of the world around us. I find that nature is always unexpected, and I am fascinated by the constantly changing appearance of lakes, woods, brooks and fields. When I first came to Canada, I was stunned by the magnificent blaze of red maples, yellow aspens and golden tamaracks in the fall and the interlacing shadows on sparkling snow in winter. These contrast with the piercingly blue sky of sunny fall and winter days, which I rarely saw in England. The relatively short but sunny summer means that there is a colourful parade of flowers to paint in my garden.

My main inspiration in trying to portray nature has been Tom Thomson who, besides being an exceptional artist also, like me, made a living working with nature as a guide in Algonquin Park. I try to show the vitality of what I experience by using expressive brushwork and vibrant colours. My interest in living things extends to portraying some of the wonderful people I have met, painting either from life or from photographs, so that I can show them in relaxed poses in their own surroundings.

selected biography

Carol Morrison immigrated to Halifax to work as a scientist, and her fulfilling career in the sciences continues on a part-time consultant basis. She has had a lifelong passion for painting, culminating in the recent completion of her BFA degree at NSCAD. Her interest in investigating the natural world around her, which led her to a career as a biologist, has also led to paintings of landscape, still life and portraits. Portraits by her are installed at the IWK hospital, the Queen Elizabeth II Health Centre and the Halifax office of the CNIB. Her paintings were bought by the Nova Scotia Art Bank in 2005 and 2006, and are in numerous private collections. They can be seen at the Art Sales and Rental Gallery of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in Halifax, in galleries across Nova Scotia and at http://carolsfineart.ca. In 2005 she obtained the Elizabeth Greenshields award. In 2009, the Nova Scotia Art Bank purchased more of her work.

Silver Dart

acrylic

36" x  36"

2009