Exhibition - seeing the forest

Chinese Brush PaintingSumi-e ArtCanadian ArtistDonna Child Fine Art
Written By Laura Beaton
Radiant Beams, Chinese Brush Painting on Japanese paper; 40"x26"

RADIANT BEAMS; Chinese Brush Painting on Japanese Paper; 40”hx26”w, Birch Gallery Substrate

Join me on Saturday November 1st between 4:30-7pm to celebrate the opening of ‘Seeing the Forest’.

I am joined by fellow artists Garth Armstrong, Tony Biano and Agata Wisinewski as we celebrate the forest.

On exhibition will be 10 art pieces, 9 of which were created specifically for this show at the Donna Child Fine Art Gallery. These 9 pieces have not been publicly displayed until now.

For me, ‘Seeing the Forest’ is a meditation on the delicate thresholds between reality and imagination, where snowy trees rise in quiet grace beneath magical skies. My work invites viewers into mystical landscapes and ethereal realms where simplicity and stillness open the way to deeper seeing. Rooted in the Zen spirit and inspired by the traditions of Chinese and Japanese art techniques, these pieces are less depictions of place than essences of moments. Here, forests are not merely gatherings of trees, but living presences that hold the quiet wisdom of the earth, offering sanctuary and inviting us to pause, listen, and see with more than our eyes.

Laura Beaton

I am a Toronto-born, international award-winning visual fine artist whose work fuses the traditions of Sumi-e, Chinese Brush Painting, and Western mixed media. Through my art, I explore and celebrate the differences and similarities among cultures—particularly Japanese, Chinese, and North American.

Though my roots are in Scottish bagpipes and English tea, a chance encounter with a Chinese brush painting on an antique tea wagon sparked a lifelong artistic journey. That early moment ignited a creative curiosity that led me to explore what it truly means to live, and create, in a multicultural society.

My art honours centuries-old techniques while looking to the future. I transform inks, rice papers, and layered textures into serene, imaginary worlds that are contemporary, yet grounded in tradition. Each piece whispers a quiet declaration: “I Am Canadian.”

Highlights of my career include:

• Election to both the Society of Canadian Artists and the Federation of Canadian Artists

• Multiple national and international awards, including Japan

• Serving as North American President for the International Chinese Calligraphy and Ink Painting Society, representing artists from eight countries

• Exhibiting in China, with my work held in the permanent collection of the Chinese government

As a non-Asian artist mastering the philosophies and aesthetics of traditional Japanese and Chinese ink art while infusing Canadian narratives, I aim to reimagine tradition, transcend borders, and create space for new perspectives. My practice is a re-wilding of the social graces and an invitation to connect.

https://LauraBeaton.com
Next

The Sumi-e Artists of Canada annual exhibition & sale november 8-9, 2025