“Animals have always resonated with me. I am in awe of their mystery and beauty, and they make our lives more magical, mystical. They teach us to observe, to slow down, listen and watch. With this series of wildlife paintings, I wanted to capture the essence of each animal, their personality and vulnerability. Their gaze draws us in - the playful look of a baby otter, the wary look of a coyote, the gentle glance of a bear. My intention is that people will see their uniqueness and beauty."      - Anita Utas

 

Anita was born in London, Ontario, and now resides in Ottawa. She received her honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History at Western University and went on to complete her Bachelor of Education. After working as an art teacher with the London public school board, she traveled overseas and spent seven years teaching in international schools in South East Asia and South America. She has traveled extensively and draws upon these experiences as inspiration for her landscapes. Her love for animals is expressed in her continuing series of wildlife paintings.

Anita has been painting professionally for over ten years. She is represented in galleries across Ontario, and her work is included in corporate and private collections in Canada, the U.S.A., and Europe.

Q&A with the artist Anita Utas

Q:  How did you become an artist?

A:  I grew up surrounded by art, and I loved drawing and sketching as a child. My grandmother in Norway was a prolific painter and my mother was also an artist, teaching Norwegian rosemaling in Canada. I obtained a degree in Art History at Western University, but I was also very keen on the fine arts courses, studying painting with the late Paterson Ewen. When I returned to Ottawa in 2004 after working overseas for seven years, I had the time to take my creative side seriously and I began painting and showing in galleries.

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Q: You have been a landscape artist for many years. What inspired you to begin painting animals? 

A: Animals help us relate to our world, acting as a bridge between civilization and nature. They teach us to observe, to slow down, listen and watch. For the past forty years, over half of all monitored wildlife species in Canada have drastically declined in abundance. I want to raise awareness about this issue, and help by donating part of my sales to organizations that support wildlife.

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Q: Your wildlife paintings are like portraits. Did you consciously choose this way of depicting the animals?

A:  The subject matter of portrait painting is usually reserved for people, but animals are individuals, with complex feelings and emotions, so why not also give them this status? I wanted to capture the essence of each animal, their personality and vulnerability. Their gaze draws us in - the playful look of a baby otter, the wary look of a coyote, the gentle glance of a bear. My intention is that people will see their uniqueness and beauty.