Wandering Familiar

'Wandering Familiar', 2024. Mixed media (acrylic, india ink, marker) on canvas. 20 x 24".

'Wandering Familiar' was commissioned by Cassiar Gold Corp, a mineral exploration and acquisition company operating from Northern BC, Cassiar. My main inspiration came from bold and vibrant signage around CGC's workplace, campsite, office, and my surrounding hometown of Jade City. I spent a couple hours traversing the landscape and documenting any sign I could find.

The main theme of the painting was to merge ideas of man-made operations and local wildlife. Questions of their contrasting nature arose. For example, what relationships does the mining industry have with surrounding wildlife? Mining operations may press onwards through the landscape but the land and it's inhabitants, such as the moose depicted in 'Wandering Familiar' can only watch. After mining operations occur, the land has changed, but I believe there is always a part of the land that lingers and lives on no matter how much is taken away from it. The land remains 'familiar' to an extent.