riverrun

This collection of abstract pieces in oil & wax is inspired by natural elements foraged along the Meewasin River Valley that gently winds through my hometown of Saskatoon.

My process involves combining both oil pigments and cold wax to create textural, layered surfaces that echo natural elements like earth, clay, water and weathered stone. I use palette knives, brayers and even my hands to build layers of pigment, which I later scrape back into, revealing hints of what came before—like erosion uncovering layers beneath the surface.

The process is slow and intuitive, and I love the way the wax gives a matte, almost velvety soft finish that adds a quiet presence to the paintings.

"Wherever you find a river,
a flow of running water,
I hope you also look
for stones holding their place.
I hope you notice
there is room
for both movement and stillness
no matter where you are,
no matter the landscape."

-Morgan Harper Nichols