I create art that reflects my depiction of beauty. I make art because it seems that the grass is always greener on the other side, and I enjoy painting that other side in hope of becoming the artwork itself. Painting, like reading, pulls me into a new reality, one that is not my own but one that is my creation, my imagination. When I paint one of my most frequent subjects, rooms or houses, I like to imagine the people that live there, what they use on a daily basis, their hobbies, the clothes they wear and this always helps me decide how to decorate each room. When I create paintings of people from my imagination, I think of all the possibilities that made this character themselves. I want people to see my work and see tranquillity. I want them to see how every small detail is important and has a reason for being there. I want viewers to reflect on themselves and what makes them themselves, what holds meaning to them, and what they identify themselves with.
Daniela Gontier
Rosedale Heights School of the Arts