Migration 2: Turtles, Cranes, Elephants

🌟 Heartfelt Gratitude! 🌟

I extend my deepest thanks to everyone who contributed to bringing my art exhibit to life. This journey has been filled with creativity, collaboration, and dedication, and I couldn’t have

🏛️ To the Ontario Arts Council & Province of Ontario – The funding and support have allowed this exhibit to come to life, making it possible to share my work with a broader audience and challenge how the general public experiences and perceives art. it without so many incredible people.

Ontario Arts Council logo
Province of Ontario logo

🎨 To my mentors and supporters – Your guidance, encouragement, and belief in my vision have been invaluable. A special thank you to Valerie Kent for your mentorship and expertise.

🖌️ To my amazing studio assistant, Max Todd – Your help mixing paints, organizing the workspace, and ensuring everything runs smoothly has made this process so much more manageable.

💙 To my husband, Brian Todd – From building custom wood-cradled panels that elevated my art to new levels, to wiring, packing, and always finding that “one more thing” I need to finish a piece—you make my creative ideas possible. Your dedication, problem-solving, and unwavering support mean the world to me.

📦 To Brian and Max – Your hard work packing, loading, and delivering all the artwork—and perfecting the system to do it all in reverse at the exhibit’s end—is truly appreciated.

👩‍🎨 To my daughter, Joey – Always there when I need a second opinion on colors or a perfect match, you are my in-house consultant and lifesaver in a pinch.

📢 To the #JohnMParrott #Gallery team—Wendy, Debi, Jonathan, and Tammi – Your efforts in showcasing my exhibit and your attention to detail have surpassed my expectations. 

Picture of art on the wall at Paul's Art Gallery.
An array of colorful artworks hung on a wall, mostly depicting butterflies and flowers. The top left features a butterfly against a blue and white wave-like background, while below is a large red flower with a butterfly on a dark background. Adjacent smaller pieces depict white flowers with orange butterflies, and another features red flowers with orange butterflies against dark shading. On the right is a snowy landscape with a blue sky. An array of colorful artworks hung on a wall, mostly depicting butterflies and flowers. The top left features a butterfly against a blue and white wave-like background, while below is a large red flower with a butterfly on a dark background. Adjacent smaller pieces depict white flowers with orange butterflies, and another features red flowers with orange butterflies against dark shading. On the right is a snowy landscape with a blue sky. An array of colorful artworks hung on a wall, mostly depicting butterflies and flowers. The top left features a butterfly against a blue and white wave-like background, while below is a large red flower with a butterfly on a dark background. Adjacent smaller pieces depict white flowers with orange butterflies, and another features red flowers with orange butterflies against dark shading. On the right is a snowy landscape with a blue sky. An array of colorful artworks hung on a wall, mostly depicting butterflies and flowers. The top left features a butterfly against a blue and white wave-like background, while below is a large red flower with a butterfly on a dark background. Adjacent smaller pieces depict white flowers with orange butterflies, and another features red flowers with orange butterflies against dark shading. On the right is a snowy landscape with a blue sky.
A collection of vibrant artworks depicting butterflies and flowers, with intricate details and a nature-inspired theme.
A vibrant painting with a glowing orange-red butterfly positioned above a textured sunflower with golden yellow petals and a dark center. The background is a solid teal blue, contrasting with the vivid colors and three-dimensional textures of the butterfly and flower.
A vibrant painting features an orange-red butterfly above a textured sunflower against a teal blue background.

SunKissed”, is on a 4’ x 4’ gallery canvas,  portrays a solitary elephant walking through tall grass in a natural setting. The elephant is rendered in textured shades of grey, emphasizing its large ears, curved tusks, and distinct trunk. The background transitions from a soft yellow on the left to a warm, vibrant orange and red on the right, suggesting a dramatic sunrise or sunset. A white circular shape, resembling the sun, is positioned on the left side, casting a subtle glow over the scene. The grass in the foreground adds depth and contrasts with the elephant’s grey tones, enhancing the sense of the animal moving through its habitat. The overall style combines realism in the depiction of the elephant with expressive, textured brushstrokes in the background and the grass. $1500.00

A whooping crane with wing spanning the canvas against blue sky.
Majestic Flight
“Majestic Flight”, a 24” x 36”, mixed media on a custom made wood panel depicting a Whooping Crane in flight against a blue background. The crane has an elongated white body with outstretched wings that are textured to show featherdetails. The tips of the wings are black, and the head is white with a small, round yellow eye and a dark beak. The bird’s wings and body are prominently highlighted with raised texture, giving the painting a three-dimensional quality. The background is a solid, deep blue, emphasizing the bird as the central subject.
A green seat turtle on the ocean floor swimming along coral and other ocean bottom .

“Natures Mosaic”, is a 24” x 36” mixed media painting is a painting of a sea turtle swimming underwater. The turtle’s shell is depicted with intricate, irregular hexagonal patterns in shades of brown and yellow. Its flippers and head are rendered with a combination of brown, yellow, and blue accents, creating a textured, mosaic-like effect. The background features a vibrant blue, symbolizing the ocean, while the bottom left portion of the painting contains textured green and beige elements that represent underwater rocks or coral. The use of bold colours and detailed patterns emphasizes the turtle as the central focus.

”Sunlit Symphony” is a tall whooping crane standing in a textured landscape. The crane has a long, slender neck and a detailed head with striking red and black markings. The body of the crane is textured, contrasted with the smooth background. Behind the bird, a bold, stylized sun in vivid yellow adds a dynamic element. The foreground includes green shrubbery with a textured surface, enhancing the natural environment. The sky transitions from blue at the top to a soft orange and pink near the horizon.
Dancing Pros – Whooping cranes love to dance! They perform elaborate courtship dances, which include bowing, jumping, and wing-flapping.

$500. on wood panel
a sea turtle swimming down toward the ocean bottom. textured painting.

”Ocean Drifter” has a sea turtle gliding through swirling currents. It’s dark silhouette contrasts a vibrant sea of blues, greens, and yellow. The fluid motion reflects the ever-changing ocean, a reminder of the challenges sea turtles face—climate change, plastic pollution, and habitat loss. 

These ancient mariners have roamed the seas for over 100 million years, yet today, rising temperatures are threatening their survival by skewing.

$400.

An elephant head with his trunk in the air spraying water that is filled with sparkles and colourful pieces. Happy elephant.
“Playful Elephant” captures the majestic presence of an African elephant,  with a striking side profile with its trunk lifted high. A cascade of purple, blue, and grey—flows from its trunk, a glint of sun sparkles in the water spray. The texture enhances the elephant’s rough, wrinkled skin, while a minimalist background draws focus to its expressive gesture.African elephants embark on vast migrations across savannas and forests, traveling up to 50 miles a day in search of water and food. Once abundant, they are now endangered due to habitat loss and poaching, making conservation efforts critical for their survival.

$500.
A textured elephant, side view, full size. the background is textured white. You can feel the roughness of his coat. Trunk is up.
“Ivory Whispers” is a textured painting of an African elephant, showcasing its majestic presence. Thick, layered paint creates a tactile surface that highlights the elephant’s wrinkled skin, large ears, and curved tusks. Shades of gray and brown add depth, while a light, neutral background enhances the elephant’s details.African elephants are known for long migration routes, traveling across savannas, forests, and deserts in search of food and water. Their journeys are guided by memory and social knowledge passed down through generations.

$750.
”Ocean Travellers” features silhouettes of six turtles swimming across a flowing background that is composed of shades of blue, green, white, and hints of yellow of an oceanic environment.

Rising Temperatures – Global warming is increasing sand temperatures at nesting sites, leading to dangerously skewed sex ratios and potential population collapse.

$700.
Four whooping cranes flying across a multi coloured sunset. various colours give a gradient effect as the cranes soar across the sky.

Soaring Sunset features five silhouetted whooping cranes soaring against a vibrant sunset. The sky shifts from deep pink to orange and bright yellow near the glowing sun, creating a serene scene.

Whooping cranes reach 5 feet, making them North America’s tallest birds!

A Remarkable Recovery – Once fewer than 20 in the 1940s, conservation efforts have helped their numbers exceed 800 today!

$750.00

”Scorched Horizons” features a bold gold band across the canvas, contrasted by black arcs and fine diagonal lines. Muted blue and grey tones below add depth, reflecting the tension between rising temperatures and fragile ecosystems. The golden hues symbolize warmth and climate shifts, highlighting the impact of droughts and resource depletion.

The last decade was the hottest on record, with 2023 being one of the warmest years ever, driven by rising greenhouse gas emissions!

$300.

”The Wanderer” portrays a white wolf positioned between vivid red trees. The wolf is centrally placed on a dark background, creating a dramatic contrast with its white fur. The texture and colour use enhance the presence of the trees and add depth to the composition. Bright red strokes define the trees, balancing the stark black and white contrast of the wolf and background. This combination creates a striking and visually engaging piece.
Wolves are super communicators! They use howls, body language, and even facial expressions to talk to their pack.Climate change affects their prey. Rising temperatures reduce snow cover, making it harder for wolves to hunt species like caribou and moose.

$1500.

“Play of Light” captures the fluid motion of water through layered greens, blues, and deep tones. Dynamic vertical brushstrokes create depth and movement and cascading currents. The painting highlights climate change’s impact on waterways, as rising temperatures and habitat loss threaten migratory fish like salmon and eels.Some fish can detect Earth’s magnetic fields, using them like a built-in compass to navigate vast distances during migration.

$300.

Please mark your calendars for my solo exhibit at

ECCO gallery in Lakefield

Migration 3 Penquins, Whales & Polar Bears

will be featured

March 4 – April 11, 2026

Opening Reception is March 11, 2026 from 2 – 4 p.m.

ECCO art gallery logo