Lorraine is an artist who creates watercolor paintings that capture the thoughts, emotions, and memories that ruminate in her mind and heart. Her love for visual arts started during her early years in Plymouth, England. Now based in Squamish, Canada, her recent works reflect her adult education, informal counseling practice, and extensive travels to over 20 countries between 2017 and 2019, enhancing her insight into the human condition and our shared experiences. She aims to capture the essence of our shared humanity, highlighting the beauty and challenges that connect us.
Where are you from and where do you currently reside?
I’m originally from Plymouth, England, and lived there until I moved to Leeds for University. In 2009 I moved to Squamish, Canada where I have called home since.
What drew you to become an artist and what type of art do you most enjoy doing?
My passion for art began in childhood, inspired by the English Moorlands and my father’s outings as well as portraiture until my late teens when I studied film photography doing my time hustling with chemicals in the darkrooms developing negatives and photographs. After I graduated with BA Fine Art from the University of Leeds, I took a hiatus from art and developed some skills in graphic design, digital photography, branding and marketing for well over a decade within the hospitality sector. It wasn’t until the pandemic that I decided to explore the arts again, opting for the watercolor medium. Today I love creating loose, atmospheric watercolour portraits that explore deep emotions. human connections and narratives.
How would you describe your style?
My style is characterized by vibrant, sometimes impetuous, and yet nuanced brushwork, balancing detailed areas with elements of mystery. Embracing my Chinese Heritage and Western upbringing, my style tends to blend Eastern and Western influences, creating emotive and contemplative compositions. That said, I’ve been told that my work is deeply evocative and emotional, which I am always humbled to hear.
What has kept you engaged and committed to your craft over the years?
The continuous exploration of human stories and the joy of capturing the essence of our shared experiences keep me deeply engaged. I’m very introspective and often wrestle with some of the uglier and more uncomfortable memories and emotions that rise within me. With some Biblical Counselling education I pursued, I’ve not only found myself self-counseling but also helping others process their trials in the broad relationships I have in my work and community. Walking side by side and sometimes standing in other people’s shoes can be more healing and helpful than we realize.
How have you grown as an artist in the past five years and what are the major contributing factors to your growth?
In the past five years, I’ve embraced my Chinese heritage more in my work, explored new techniques, and returned to painting with renewed vigor post-pandemic. My extensive travels to over 40 countries, life experiences, community building within the artist cohorts I belong to, and my current mentorship under Thomas W. Schaller have been significant factors in my growth. Yet of all the things, maintaining the relationships within my faith community, and close cohorts and communities of fellow artists from all different levels has been the biggest thing. To lift others up publicly around you for their work and how they inspire you as well as to allow others to support and encourage you. I believe we were built for relationships and we thrive the most when we commit to them.
What materials do you most commonly use?
I commonly use artist-quality watercolors such as Rockwell Arts Canada and Daniel Smith, Kolinsky Sable brushes, synthetic brushes to scrub, trusty ol’ paper towels, 100% cotton paper, and various supplies that enable me to mount my work onto cradled panels. I love my giant ceramic Stephen Quiller Palette.
Can you describe some of your favorite pieces you’ve worked on?
Some of my favorite pieces include an award-winning self-portrait. “Struck Down Yet Not Destroyed” which was born out of the struggles and injuries I obtained while working for a prolonged period with people who I believe suffered from a narcissistic personality disorder. “The Trial,” which captures a man’s deep distress, is strangely another self-portrait that expresses the frustration and anguish I feel about the chaos and evils in the world. “Last Few Standing” came from the many weekly breakfasts I enjoy with my husband. He has been a recovered alcoholic for over a decade which is, unfortunately, a rare feat. Many of those with whom he recovered have relapsed or overdosed. A part of him has a survivor’s guilt, knowing that he doesn’t necessarily deserve the transformed and renewed life that he’s now living. He grieves those lost and longs to help others.
Do you have any advice for up-and-coming artists? Are there any tips or techniques you can offer?
Be comfortable with failure, and learn how to critique yourself healthily, it will help you improve yourself more productively and help you focus on the goal and your voice. Be patient with yourself as you develop your own artistic voice; have confidence that you are uniquely distinctly wired and created and because of that, no one else can make what you make. You don’t need to copy trends and selling out will only make you miserable in the long run being forced to produce work that doesn’t vibe with the way you’re created.
Feelings are good indicators of things but you don’t need to be ruled by them. No need to shy away from exploring deep and sometimes uncomfortable emotions and memories. Ugly feelings and memories don’t go away, pushing them down will only give them an opportunity for them to rear up again in ugly behavior. It’s better to process it, grieve it, learn true forgiveness, ask forgiveness for what you need to, and ask others to help hold you to account when you know you need to believe and behave differently.
What are your website and social media links?
You can find my work and exclusive insider updates on my website www.lorrainesimonds.com Follow me on Instagram at @lorraine.simonds.watercolour for updates and insights into my creative process.
