Artist Statement

My inspiration comes from my love of the forest where I live. I am passionate about sharing the beauty and the wonder I find there, and it is my deepest desire to foster a feeling of reverence for nature in those who view my work.

I paint with oils on stretched canvas, in a realistic and lyrical style with the impression of a fair bit of detail, but always including an otherworldly aspect embedded into each painting with geometric shapes or symbolism of some kind, to help me to portray the magic I find in the wildwoods. 

More About My Story

and the SYLVAN REFLECTIONS art, book & film project

Put your feet up, relax, and sink yourself into this beautiful short documentary created by ICandyFilms showing gorgeous forest scenery and telling the story of how the book came to be—showing you what this project of mine is all about …enjoy!

Barbara Brown, BSc., DipFA., artist, geographer, and thinker.  Forest-walker, and author of the book:

SYLVAN REFLECTIONS: 

Wanderings, Paintings and Ponderings From the Forest

I live in a cabin my husband and I built in the forest on a mountainside in the wild Kootenays region of the Canadian Rockies; in the Slocan Valley, near Nelson ~ a haven for free-thinkers and people who have chosen alternative lifestyles, tucked away in the remote southeast corner of British Columbia, Canada.

Spending time in nature has always been crucial to my well-being. As a geographer, I studied ‘natural resources’ and outdoor recreation, and how we as humans can live in harmony with nature. Twenty-four years ago I began a daily practice of walking in the forest, which I continue to this day, watching the plant and animal life ebb and flow through all the seasons. Having a deep connection with my forest, it is where I feel most alive. It fills me up, to overflowing, to the point where I must express myself and tell others, with my words and paintings, about this connection.

Creating visual art has, as well, always been an important part of who I am. In my younger years, I was in several shows and did many commissioned pieces, of both commercial and fine art. I then stopped painting for twenty years while I ran a business producing annual visitor guide maps promoting my region and all its incredible natural and cultural attractions and outdoor recreation opportunities. This seemed to take up all my creative energy. But I always knew I would come back to painting someday when the time was right. That time has come. I sold the maps business, and am now filled to bursting with the inspiration (and the time!) to paint my beloved forest.

Philosophical thought is also foundational to my being. As an original thinker, I am committed to exploring the human condition. My path through life has always been contemplative and self-reflective. Then, in 2007 I was diagnosed with lung cancer, and this experience vastly deepened my awareness of what it means to be alive. Through it I became enraptured with life. Having come out the other side stronger, wiser, and feeling more whole, I now am even grateful for that cancer. And I am called to share, to help others find their way through difficult times along their journey.

I know when I was in that hospital bed, and then home indoors recovering, I would have loved to have had a book and film like SYLVAN REFLECTIONS to transport me into the healing green magic of the forest.

Giving a presentation at a library

Artist Biography

Barbara is a Canadian artist and author living in the wild and remote mountains of SE British Columbia, where she paints, writes and produces films about the forest where she lives.

Her intimacy with the woods is reflected in her paintings. She expertly captures the enchantment of the forest with her juxtaposition of realism lovingly rendered, with otherworldly symbolism and/or geometric elements –sometimes hidden, always spellbinding.

Barbara has exhibited and won awards in juried exhibitions, and she shows her work annually locally in the Columbia Basin Culture Tour. Online she exhibits at Manhattan Arts International where she has won Awards of Excellence in the Healing Power of Art 2020 and Spirit of Resilience shows.

She has a BSc. degree in Geography from the University of Victoria, and she is a graduate of Malaspina College’s two year Fine Arts diploma program. She has sat on the Board of Directors of her local Slocan Valley Arts Council, and has won several Grants to further her work.

Her work is in private collections across the country, and her book with its companion film sells internationally from her Etsy shop, where high archival quality prints of her paintings can also be purchased. 

Barbara puts out an email Newsletter ‘News From the Forest’, and she has a growing social media following on Facebook. 

Interviews

Louise-M, She Changes Podcast: On Finding Beauty – in conversation with Barbara Brown

On Finding Beauty – in conversation with Barbara Brown

TreeSisters’ Creativity Liaison Kathleen Brigidina interviews Barbara Brown

Articles

~ARTiculate magazine, article, in Essential: Barbara Brown section,‘Welcome to the Forest’ by Moe Lyons (writer) and Margaret Tessman (editor), Spring/Summer 2024, page 23

~The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS website, article, ‘Beth Shadur, Barbara Brown and Mark Weller Received Special Recognition Art Awards, Healing Power of Elements: Earth, Water, Air & Fire exhibition, by Renee Phillips, September 2023

~Discover Sixty-Five, Kootenay Seniors Living magazine, interview/article, ‘Born to Create? It’s never too late: Meet artist Barbara Brown‘, by Karma Halleran, Pennywise, September

~The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS, website, ‘World Changers’ interview/article, ‘Barbara Brown Aids TreeSisters to Help the Natural World‘, by Renee Phillips.

~ARTiculate magazine, book review, in New & Noteworthy section, Spring/Summer 2017 Issue #31, Page 28.

~Valley Voice newspaper, article, in Community section, ‘West Kootenay artists receive award of excellence at juried exhibition’, March 12, 2020 edition, Page 10

~Valley Voice newspaper, article, in Community section, ‘Slocan Valley Painter launches first book: Sylvan Reflections’, November 3, 2016 edition, Page 20

Publications

~Volume II, SYLVAN REFLECTIONS: Wanderings, Paintings & Ponderings From the Forest

Published by Raven Creations, 2024. Available for sale on Etsy.

~No Ordinary Words: The Real Life Wisdom of Women, Audio Version The anthology that was published two years ago that I am so pleased to be a part of with a chapter called “Facing My Fears & Following My Calling”, has now come out with an Audio Version! I’ve narrated my own chapter plus three of the others. Click here for a link to a sampling of the audio book

~No Ordinary Words: The Real Life Wisdom of Women

I am one of thirty three contributing authors in this wonderful collection of stories gathered together by Editor Kelly Herrick, and available for sale on Amazon with all proceeds going to two charities: TreeSisters, and She Has Hope.

From the back cover:

“We’ve all lived through some challenging life lessons, but what if we shared their power to uplift and inspire one another? In this book, 33 women from around the world come together to celebrate the hardships, the celebrations and the revelations of life in today’s world.

From mental health to nature connectedness, from fertility to menopause, belonging and community, and so much more, this book explores the deeper aspects of life with an open honesty and authenticity normally found amongst friends.”

In my chapter I speak about how I raised the courage to become the artist I always knew I was meant to be—and I tell the story, for the first time, about coming upon a young Raven, hurt and dying, in the forest; and how he gave the power of his life—his flight, to me to help me to learn to fly after feeling I had jumped off a cliff with the reinvention of myself as ‘Barbara Brown, Artist of the Forest’…

~One Thousand Trees

Online magazine, article about my journey with the creation of this project of mine, in ‘The Story Behind the Story‘ section, November 2017 issue, Page 6.

~SYLVAN REFLECTIONS: Wanderings, Paintings & Ponderings From the Forest

Published by Raven Creations, 2016. Available for sale on Etsy.