Erla Mottram
In ‘97, the beauty of the foliage in the neighbourhood stunned me. The busts of orange, yellow, and burnt sienna were mottled over the faded green leaves.
It called out “paint me.” I dashed to an art supply store. The clerk loaded me up with watercolour supplies., Watercolours are versatile, slippery, unpredictable, wonderful,light-filled and colorful. Easy to travel with too!
My paintings are influenced by the beauty of the natural world. I strive to capture the fleeting moments I see such as sunlight filtering through the leaves, the dance of shadows everywhere, and the whisper of the wind on the landscape. A painting is often inspired by the beauty of the Rocky Mountains. Memories of backpacking, hiking, and skiing inspire me to share these past experiences. They tell my story.
Each stroke and splash are a conversation between my inner-self, and the paints and paper. It’s a dialogue that speaks of my long and interesting life. My memories as a British Columbia country farm girl with seven siblings and hard-working parents.
As someone who has traversed different cultures and landscapes in Europe and The Americas, I am intrigued by the stories that shape us and the connections we forge.
My art is a tapestry of travel experiences woven together with strands of my heritage, farming, ranching, animals domestic and wild, hunting cabins, vegetable gardens, chicken houses, roosters, milk cows, and anything else that piques my interest.
It is my hope that through my work, I can create a space for sharing memories and nature’s beauty. People can find a piece of their own story reflected in my art. I am grateful for the opportunity to share this journey with others and to contribute to the rich tapestry of human creativity.
RockyMountainWatercolors.com 