ori-ann Latremouille creates her captivating images by letting her mind flow freely without inhibition or preconceived ideas. “Drawing is like diving into the subconscious mind or into a dreamlike state,” she

                                                                                           says, “where lines and forms are free to appear and                                                                                            unfold, unfettered by the chains of reason.” She is                                                                                            self-taught and developed her stunning technique                                                                                                and visual philosophy outside of any institutional                                                                                                   influences. She recalls a pivotal moment in her                                                                                                    artistic development, when instead of having a                                                                                                   friend model for her she decided to just draw                                                                                                    from her imagination. The moment she started                                                                                                    drawing this way, the imagery poured out of                                                                                                     her so naturally and effortlessly, that she                                                                                                     knew she had found her true direction.

                                                                                               Born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia,                                                                                               Latremouille  is influenced by the lush and                                                                                              synergistic ecosystem of her coastal community. This is evident in her work, where human figures, animals, sea creatures, birds, flora and fauna all intertwine together. She begins each piece by “doodling” as she says, with lines that gradually shift into more complex

shapes and forms. Positive and negative spaces dance back and forth, like a jigsaw puzzle and images spontaneously begin to bloom in front of her. Velvety charcoal and pastel colors provide sensual tonal gradations that give the work an evocative strength and intensity. Her unique blending of emotionally charged blocks of color with brilliantly contrasting black and white hues is striking and at times psychedelic.

Latremouille’s work is not easily categorized. There is a quality that echoes the native totem artifacts that stand not far from her home, the way her figures magically morph into each other. Some viewers see more contemporary influences like M.C. Escher, Pablo Picasso, or Henri Rousseau. The work is imaginative, at times surreal, gentle, erotic, exotic, peaceful and powerful. “It comes from the world of the fantastic and the alluring,” says Art Perry, critic for Vancouver’s The Province. “It’s all unreal but totally believable.” Latremouille explains that each work is born without any specific intention or message, yet all the work speaks of a larger philosophy of “universal wholeness and the vital connection between all matter and living things.” She is also an accomplished poet and singer songwriter, which explains the musical imagery often seen in her work. Over the past 20 years her work has been exhibited extensively in the U.S. and Canada and hangs in many prominent private and public collections. She has also exhibited in Europe. Lori-ann Latremouille’s artwork has made a lasting mark in the art world and will no doubt continue to draw acclaim for years to come.