Print Full CV

A Vancouver native, Cori Creed explores the Napa landscape with the fresh and curious eye of a foreigner among fertile lands. Visiting Napa Valley was an essential point of inspiration for Creed, who tends to immerse herself in a particular place before setting out to paint.

Her need to be close to the land and experience its distinct qualities is do in part to her upbringing. Growing up amongst her grandparent’s farm, Creed developed an immense respect for the earth around her. She has a great admiration for how land is cultivated for wine, often integrating the natural landscape of hills and valleys, creating beautiful tapestries of nature. It is these tapestries that inspire her vibrant landscapes full of texture, dramatic colors and warm light.

Having admired the work of Wayne Thiebaud for years, Cori delights in the use of voluminous brush strokes and layering of paint. When asked to explain her extensive color palette, she notes that she focuses on a single ray of light or a few distinct blades of grass - illuminating these colors throughout her work, to make them larger and more apparent than the human eye naturally permits.

The harmonious movement in these paintings is also representative of Cori’s signature style. Early influences of Van Gough are undeniably present in these works. Each detail on the canvas comes to life with a heightened sense of existence; one that is only possible through the vision of a masterful artist. -- Christina Maybaum