I was born and raised in a Mennonite village northeast of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Being the twelfth of sixteen children created a few challenges that directly resulted in the path I took as an artist. My mother was my greatest support and would always encourage me to draw and create pictures for her and the family to enjoy. Once they were framed, she would allow me to hang them in all the various rooms in the house. During the time that paint-by-numbers were popular, several of my siblings received them, but were not interested, so there I was, claiming all those supplies for my next creative venture.

Over the years, I have observed nature, asking myself “What colour is that really? How can I reproduce that on canvas?” My goals gradually changed from just painting a picture to creating a painting that was as realistic as possible while incorporating my own perspective and personality.

I have always been fascinated by the prairie skies. They are ever changing in colour and cloud formation. One can “see” the wind, the cold, the heat, the moisture, or the stillness of the environment in the sky. I have developed the habit of trying to have the sky tell the story of the picture in my paintings.

In creating wildlife paintings, I have found the environment and natural habitat to be equally as important as the structure and form of the animal.

I hope you enjoy browsing through my gallery of work.

I can be contacted at: 1(306) 621-2286

email at: artisthjf@hotmail.com.