Born in Ontario and now living in North Vancouver B.C., Louise Nicholson is a passionate painter of the figure and landscapes in oils and acrylics. She earned a Bachelor of Science from Simon Fraser University and worked in the medical field.

As a mother of three, Louise had a breakthrough moment when she participated in a drawing class at night school. She was so excited to glimpse the possibilities of creating again after having it paused for “life”. She continued to educate herself with a hunger for knowledge, progressing her drawing with charcoal and pastel then moving into painting.

“I dream of moving to a small cabin in the woods so I can paint all day, every day and become an amazing artist who nails it every time.”

Inspired by the play of light and her love of movement in the figure, she explores the emotion behind both human and animal gesture with clarity of colour and confident brushwork.

Painting bears wasn’t always her passion, but after being commissioned to paint a portrait of one she felt a spark light up inside her that made her want to do more. “I enjoy capturing expressions and I was focusing more on people. But when I was commissioned to paint the bear, the eyes were penetrating and I could feel the connection. I just all of a sudden felt my heart go: ‘Oh, wow.’”

Her artworks of bears with people in peculiar places or situations are a mix of inspiration from stunning images snapped by photographers in “extravagantly wild places” and her own creativity and love for wildlife and nature.
Artist Statement:

I paint to create a connection between myself, the subject and the person who sees my work. It’s like when you see something and you want to nudge the person next to you and say, “Wow, look at that! Isn’t that wild?!” By painting what I find wild, moving, interesting, and exciting, I get to share my passion with those around me. These days, it is wildlife that stirs me I’d like to share that connection with others.