BIOGRAPHY

Maxine Wolodko was born and raised in rural Alberta, and now resides in Vancouver. She has been drawing and painting since childhood. Influences of her rural upbringing can be found in her paintings of small towns, farms, landscapes and animals. Her artwork expresses a strong sense of community as well as an appreciation for ordinary, everyday experiences.

Maxine holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Alberta and is an exhibiting member of the Federation of Canadian Artists.

ARTIST STATEMENT

"With my paintings, I seek to capture simple, beautiful moments I witness in everyday life. Painting is my way of fully appreciating these ordinary moments before they can slip away and be forgotten.

The latest expression of this is a fascination with crows, backyard birds and other small creatures in my everyday surroundings. I feel a great appreciation for these animals that often go unnoticed in our everyday lives. Spending time observing birds, squirrels, insects (and even pets) is an important part of my artistic process. Painting is a way for me to extend these experiences and continue to feel the joy and appreciation of being there.

Another ongoing theme in my work is the depiction of small town scenes and the beauty of rural areas. Growing up in rural Alberta has given me an appreciation for the individual characteristics of small towns and out-of-the way places. I love to find seemingly ordinary buildings, streets, roads or other areas and highlight what is unique; or to express a new view of something that generally goes unnoticed.

In addition to the creation of the artwork, I get great satisfaction when a viewer feels a similar connection to an image that I do; or if the artwork brings a person to a familiar, meaningful place and reveals something
special about it."