about monica
Monica has had a love of animals, nature and art since childhood and loved to read about far-away lands. This has ultimately led her to become an award-winning photographer, published photojournalist, published poet and writer, artist and world traveler. During her many years in the nursing profession, and owning a successful award-winning B&B, she met a multitude of fascinating people from all over the world and from all walks of life. Some were famous, some wise, some funny, others had endured unspeakable horrors, but most were ordinary. All of them have inspired Monica to reawaken her long held dreams and aspirations for travel, art and photography. Although she describes herself as a realistic artist, many of her images have an almost mystical quality bordering on the abstract, capturing a flash of beauty, a deep emotion or a transcendent pattern of colors. Even her photographs of cars draw the viewer to see light reflections, contrasts, colors and form, not necessarily a car, per se, nor does she use digital manipulation in the creation of her images. She believes "The natural world needs no enhancement."
Monica’s photographic subjects vary widely from animals to architecture, floral details to expansive vistas, chandeliers to cars; the beauty of the world around her provides her constant inspiration. Her work depicts the world and its wonders as she sees them through the lens of her camera, often focusing on the details. She uses photography to infuse wonder and joy into life, finding something beautiful, something to be grateful for, give pleasure to the senses and exalt the mind simply by taking a closer look at the world. She considers herself fortunate to be able to pursue her passions, "for all things achieved or attempted were done simply for the joy of doing them, and the joy is enough."
With a photo-journalistic eye and focus on wildlife and respectful habitat conservation, preservation and restoration Monica hopes to foster an appreciation for the past and present, and perhaps, give pause for reflection toward the future by using her photography, writing and speaking engagements to connect with the viewer.
She has done a number of commissioned pieces for several art collectors and regularly has her work shown at Coast Collective Arts Society and at Peninsula Gallery in Sidney as well as many other exhibitions and venues in and around Victoria. Her work has also been juried to be included in the Sidney Fine Art Show, the Sooke Fine Art Show and Ladysmith Fine Art Show for many years and she has won awards in those Shows and others.
"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands, but seeing with new eyes" Marcel Proust
Paintings are all originals and Photographic Images are limited to editions of 3, 8 or 10 depending on the subject and size. A portion of all of her sales is donated to animal and wildlife efforts around the world, BCSPCA, Wild ARC in British Columbia and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya to name a few.
Monica’s photographic subjects vary widely from animals to architecture, floral details to expansive vistas, chandeliers to cars; the beauty of the world around her provides her constant inspiration. Her work depicts the world and its wonders as she sees them through the lens of her camera, often focusing on the details. She uses photography to infuse wonder and joy into life, finding something beautiful, something to be grateful for, give pleasure to the senses and exalt the mind simply by taking a closer look at the world. She considers herself fortunate to be able to pursue her passions, "for all things achieved or attempted were done simply for the joy of doing them, and the joy is enough."
With a photo-journalistic eye and focus on wildlife and respectful habitat conservation, preservation and restoration Monica hopes to foster an appreciation for the past and present, and perhaps, give pause for reflection toward the future by using her photography, writing and speaking engagements to connect with the viewer.
She has done a number of commissioned pieces for several art collectors and regularly has her work shown at Coast Collective Arts Society and at Peninsula Gallery in Sidney as well as many other exhibitions and venues in and around Victoria. Her work has also been juried to be included in the Sidney Fine Art Show, the Sooke Fine Art Show and Ladysmith Fine Art Show for many years and she has won awards in those Shows and others.
"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands, but seeing with new eyes" Marcel Proust
Paintings are all originals and Photographic Images are limited to editions of 3, 8 or 10 depending on the subject and size. A portion of all of her sales is donated to animal and wildlife efforts around the world, BCSPCA, Wild ARC in British Columbia and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya to name a few.
