Garden Delight

Shirley Thompson is a Canadian artist from British Columbia, Canada, born in a gold mining town called Bralorne but has lived most of her life in the West End of Vancouver. Painting primarily in acrylic, her impressionist style of bold colours and textures has an impact, and her love of nature is evident in her work. Shirley Thompson does not try to replicate the subject matter but instead leaves it up to her imagination.
Her ideas, thoughts and travels, and the painting itself play a role in the visual outcome. Much of her work is left up to chance – in essence, working toward creating more of a mood through the layering, which lends the work depth and interest for the viewer. She is a member of The Federation of Canadian Artists and has an in-depth article profiling her life and art journey in the Arabella Magazine, 2012 Winter edition. The Group of Seven, Joan Mitchell, and the Impressionists are just a few of the many artists that have influenced her work.

Thompson's work can be found in many private and corporate collections worldwide.

Artist Statement: My art is an extension of a deep love of nature. Painting goes to the core of one's soul; it never leaves always a constant in your life. You never arrive. There's always one more painting having a voice which never existed before you created it. Much of my work is a Contemporary Floral inspired by gardens, water, or a single bloom. I paint to create a sense of depth and spontaneity, adding an abstract dimension to my work. I begin by layering loose gestural strokes, then adding more detail and defining more areas as the painting proceeds, adding and subtracting, leaving some of the initial strokes remaining in the finished piece. This way of working gives the painting energy and depth that inspires me; this method is challenging but fun. Nature will always be a never-ending source of joy, as well as my work.