E-Mail:  ampoka@gmail.com

“Happy are the painters, for they shall not be lonely. Light and colour, peace and hope, will keep them company.”   Winston Churchill

I was born in Finland and moved to Nova Scotia from Thunder Bay, Ontario over 50 years ago. The experience of moving closer to the ocean where everything moves slower and where there is a great deal of diversity has allowed me the space to work on my art.

My husband and I have raised three children in N.S. and now have the joy of watching our four grandchildren grow into wonderfully creative human beings.

I have always loved to play with paper and to draw. My father worked at a pulp mill and would often bring huge rolls of paper for us kids to create with. I can remember sitting around the kitchen table together with my siblings laughing and spending many hours drawing and cutting up all that wonderful paper.  As a child, we only ever had pencils and pencil crayons; it was only later on in life that the wonder of painting unfolded for me.

I also enjoy working in acrylic, watercolour, calligraphy and charcoal. I will always love the wonderful quality and texture of different kinds of paper and putting paint or pen to a blank canvas.

I have been part of the Artists’ Circle for three years and have participated in many inspiring workshops with artists like Louise Williams, Twila Robar-DeCoste, Wayne Boucher, Leigh Evelyn, Rose Adams, Ray Sanford, Pat Lorenz, Poppy Balser, and Brian Muszkie.