Canada-based artist Amy Stewart has been drawn to the interconnections of art, play, and nature since her childhood in 108-Mile House, British Columbia, where she spent most of her time outdoors. That first northern home continues to dominate much of Amy's current artistic world. The memories of childhood and nature shape her adult imagination, and they are reflected in her paintings' rich textures and vibrant tones. Her pieces are often inspired by the feelings that come both from the natural world and from engaging fully in her community and with her loved ones. I paint how I feel and who I am, Stewart explains. And that sense of humanity - the private experiences of suffering and celebration - is evoked by her canvases' unique explorations of color, which range from exuberant bursts of brightness to contemplative reflections on darkness.