Marijean Harris

Artist Bio

Growing up in the rural landscape of Caledon, I developed a deep and lasting connection to the natural world. I spent long hours wandering the fields and forests near my home, drawing, painting, and making—early expressions of a creative impulse that would shape my life. From a young age, I knew I wanted to become an artist. My father, William Fowler Wells, a successful watercolour artist, first introduced me to painting. Through his guidance, I learned to observe the landscape with care and sensitivity, working within traditional techniques that grounded my early practice. Over time, I developed a realistic approach, building a strong foundation in composition, colour, and the subtle complexities of the natural environment. My experience shifted in university, where I encountered contemporary art and abstraction. Immersed in the studio, I began to expand both my technical language and my understanding of what painting could be. This period marked the beginning of a gradual evolution toward a more expressive and contemporary approach—one that allowed for a deeper engagement with personal response, memory, and interpretation. After completing my university studies, I returned to school to pursue graphic design, continuing to paint alongside my professional work. Raising three children brought a pause to my painting practice, though drawing remained a constant thread. In recent years, following my retirement, I have returned fully to painting. This renewed focus has allowed me to bring together a lifetime of observation, experience, and exploration into a practice that continues to evolve with energy and purpose. The Canadian landscape inspires me, and rather than depicting specific locations, I am interested in how place is experienced and remembered—through atmosphere, light, and emotional resonance. My paintings emerge as imagined landscapes that suggest stillness, movement, and the passage of time, inviting viewers into a reflective and open-ended experience.