about me
I’m ecstatic that you found me and are reading this page! Welcome! Allow me to tell you a bit about myself and my work.
I have the privilege of living in one of the most visually inspiring places in all of Canada and that is the city of Vernon which sits comfortably next to Kalamalka Lake. The rich turquoise coloured water of Kal Lake brings me such deep joy that I’m convinced I was born to live here. My husband, Lorne and I moved to British Columbia several years ago from Saskatchewan and the massive life change opened so many doors of opportunities. From starting our own renovation business to making amazing connections with people, Vernon has solidly and warmly become our home base. We have five incredible adult kids. Three are born to us and two married in. They have all grown up and moved away and so I have unabashedly claimed our family dining room table as my personal studio space. Until the next holiday, of course, when the kids come home and they need to set up Catan.
Tile setting and painting spaces for clients are two jobs in particular that I have been so proud to do. The nearly two decades of experience I have with renovating homes has given me a deep appreciation for making old things new. For choosing just the right palette of colours, for symmetry, for straight lines, for understanding the concept of taking twenty eight steps backwards before you can move forward. For keeping the right to change your mind. For celebrating the hard won end result. For maintaining my motto of “We Finish Well.”
All these aspects have shaped my art and I know that I needed to live the life I have lived so I can create what I am making now. Every piece is made with such intention, with extreme attention to the smallest detail, with passion and joy. I absolutely love what I am doing and sharing with others about my artwork opens up doors to deeper conversations and that always feels like a golden moment.
Thank you for visiting my page and perusing my work. Let me know if anything catches your eye or speaks to you. I’d be honoured to have one of my pieces in your home.
With Gratitude,
Larisa
about the process.
I started painting seriously three years ago and tried many different genres and mediums. Finding my own style was challenging but I kept on experimenting until one day in June of 2022, I happened upon it by accident. It was a day where I had time, inspiration and new paints but I needed a canvas and didn’t have a new one. So I took a previously used birch panel and scraped off the heavily painted parts and sanded down other sections.
In the middle of that process, I realized “HOLY HANNAH, I LOVE THIS!” So I took that half sanded wooden canvas and began again; just building off of what was left. Taping straight lines ( because I love straight lines) painting, sanding, repeat. Then I added some carefully chosen sections of text from my favourite childhood story, along with vintage black and white images I found in a book from the 1800’s. When that collage was finished I felt for the first time, I had clearly expressed myself and knew it was the avenue I wanted to go down. I showed it to my daughter and her response was, “Mom, this is absolutely the best piece you’ve ever done!” This was another Golden Moment in my life.
Since then, I have added several other elements to the collage process, which has become my signature. I incorporate strips of linen that I have painstakingly soaked off of antique book covers. I use drywall mud for creating heavily textured areas, as well as tissue paper for the most subtle layering of colour. I search for inscriptions and signatures with dates in the front of antique books and work those into a piece. Layers of random text, lists, pictures, writing, copyright dates, all get applied in and around each other, each item adding to the story of my painting.
When I reach the point of resolution and the joyful agony of creating is done, Lorne skillfully and lovingly steps in and builds a frame for it. This is his constant contribution to my endeavour and I’m so eternally grateful for his unwavering love and support.
