This stunning landscape is Julie Himel’s memory of a day spent hiking deep in the ancient woods of British Columbia. She was struck by the cycle of life apparent in the old fallen trees, the fresh new growth and the lake. Tall trees line the shore of a deep blue lake and provide a focal point for the piece, a sunlit canopy and dark green forest loom in the background. A devoted environmentalist, Himel finds inspiration and solace in the beauty of nature.

“Trees falling down, moss growing on them…I try to bring those aspects of decay and the cycle of life into my work. I have no time for the Instagram life of perfectly polished everything. That’s not life.” Julie Himel

She completed a BFA at York University with additional studies at the Toronto School of Art and Langara College in Vancouver. Himel has been painting professionally for more than 20 years. Her award-winning paintings can be found in private, corporate and public collections.