Crystal (Danard) Babcook

Crystal grew up on an acreage in Atikokan, a small isolated town in Northwestern Ontario. Her life was surrounded by rocks, trees, water & animals. She spent a lot of time sketching her surroundings. She grew up to have her first job in a ceramic shop where she was given the freedom to paint pictures on many of the pieces she made. Here she took tole painting (with oils) and calligraphy classes. Her first art sale was to her history teacher who sent the piece to Germany-she was 14. This started her career in selling various creations everywhere that she lived, while spending every spare moment doing one crafty thing or another.

Shortly after moving to Beaumont, Alberta she started a picture framing as an extension to her craft business. When she joined the Artist Association of Beaumont to market her skills, she took an art class through them. On April 11, 1999 she picked up a chalk pastel & was given instructions to play. That fateful day changed her focus & career plans.

She has experimented with acrylics, mosaics, stained glass, welding, watercolor, pencil, pen & ink, collage as well as both soft & oil pastels. She primarily works in watercolor but wanders off to other mediums when her muse dictates that she should.

She paints florals more than any other subject, though rocks & waters follow very closely behind. She has done everything from wildlife to portraits to heavy equipment & the trucks that haul them. Most of her mixed media & collage pieces are abstracts. She has recently completed a series that had actual butterfly, moth or dragonfly wings in them.

She has been successfully juried into many art clubs & shows over the years and had her work showcased at the ART EXPO in both New York & Las Vegas. She also has works available through Timothy’s Fine Art & they have her work being spot lighted in High Point Arkansas, or it can be found on their website www.art-exchange.com.

Her newest journey finds her making her home in Summerland BC.

                                                                  ARTIST STATEMENT

Painting adds calm & tranquility to my very busy days. It reminds me to enjoy the moment for as long as it takes to create. My paintings are from my soul, a reminder of the beauty in a very chaotic world that is often too busy to remember the little blessings we are surrounded by every day.

I wish for the illusion that I create, to bring a little peace & calm to the world of the person who cannot walk away, empty handed.