SCOTLAND COLLECTION

I began painting this collection in March, and what started as a series of watercolour paintings to just enjoy the trip I had taken, turned into a list of paintings I wanted to make longer than any I had made before for a single collection.

I have been working with small studies to build into larger pieces for this collection. The studies have been released to my email list along the way as an exclusive moment for them and a bit of sustainable income for me, a self-represented artist.

As I chipped away at my list I quickly realized this collection would take much longer than I thought, so I’ve decided to release it in several parts.

This first part is filled with coasts and castles, flower studies, and even a Highland Cow named Murdo. The reference photos are from our road trip day on the North East 250, but what is really inspiring the paintings is our human history of queer love. Because queer people have always existed!

Personally, I have many generations back of family being from Scotland, as many other Canadians do. With this work I’ve been exploring what my queer ancestors lives may have been like. Did they share feelings that many of us have of “being in the closet”? Did they experience budding feelings of romance? Abandonment and shame? Hopes and dreams? Real and true love?

Historians will call them friends, but how often is the truth really queer love?