During the period between the year 2000 and 2004, I made the transition from painting part-time to painting full-time. I avoided going into galleries, or reading books on art because I didn't want to be influenced by anyone elses work in case I found myself inadvertantly copying it. This isn't the case any more, and I am going to galleries wherever and whenever I can. But at that time, I immersed myself in developing my own style and concentrated on learning about plants.

I spent these years with my nose to the ground literally, taking photos and studying plants. Over time, I found that the plants began to teach me things, about ecosystems and interconnection between them and us. My views on life expanded.

In 2002 I moved out of the city of Ottawa to the Manitoulin Island region, surrounded by plants, birds, water and other amazing sights.

- Christi