Paula Shemming is a visual artist who has been drawing and painting since early childhood. She has mastered techniques in many different media. Each of her artworks is carefully planned with sketches, notes and photographs. Preliminary drawings and paintings are made to design the composition and choose the color palette. She blends her interests in fine art and decor into a focus on design and color for decorative effect, as well as paintings and drawings.

Paula enjoys working in a variety of media - acrylics, watercolor, charcoal and pen and ink. Exploring new areas has moved her to master hand painted porcelain tiles, ceramic tile mosaic and working with wood. One of her most striking achievements is a series of hand painted bathroom tiles depicting fishes of the North Pacific Ocean in naturalistic, underwater settings.

Throughout her life Paula has been influenced by many different traditions, including artists of the Old West, European, Egyptian, and particularly her personal heritage in Scandinavian art and handcrafts. She has studied art history and studio techniques at college and taught painting and drawing privately.

Paula's subject matter reflects her love of the outdoors and a passion for gardening and raising horses. Her works include rural scenes, still life and architectural portraits. A recent portrait depicts the heritage school at North Oyster, which she was instrumental in saving from the wrecker's bulldozer. Involved in amateur theatrical productions throughout her children's school years, Paula has also designed and painted numerous full-sized sets. She learned airbrush techniques and has painted sets using both brush and airbrush. Past productions include sets for The Wizard of Oz, Wind in the Willows and The Jungle Book. Some of these were multi-layered, three dimensional sets as large as 32 by 18 feet. Paula's most recent artistic exploration has been in the field of mural painting in homes and offices.

For more information about custom artworks or wall murals for your office or home, please contact Paula at pkshemming@fireflystudio.ca or by telephone at 250.245.2073.