Born in Vancouver, B.C., Teressa was first introduced to watercolour painting in 1979. Since 1986, when she started painting seriously in watercolour, she has had an enduring desire to learn more and share her knowledge with others. Primarily self-taught, she began teaching classes and workshops in watercolour in 1988. She is dedicated and her work is widely collected locally and internationally. A member of the Federation of Canadian Artists since 1987, she was elected to AFCA status in 1991 and has been the recipient of numerous awards. She is currently on the Board of Directors for the Federation of Canadian Artists. Flexibility has allowed her to explore watercolour with the same sense of excitement that she had when first introduced to the medium and she is currently exploring acrylics as well as teaching mixed media with watercolour, and hand pressed printing techniques using water based mediums with the same enthusiasm. Artist's Statement "When I first started painting in watercolour, I was inspired by the way light fell on objects, and the shadows deriving from the light. Still attracted by light and shadow, I am also fascinated with shapes and how they relate to one another. My approach to painting has evolved over the years, from being a purest watercolourist to layering watercolour or acrylic with other mediums to achieve the desired results. Although it is essentially natural for me to start my paintings with a drawing, I love to experiment and often start with an abstract under-painting and let the painting grow from there. The enchantments of flowers always captivate me, and exploring the landscape and abstract forms has captured my interest with a special appeal, as art places experiences into forms and patterns." ~ Teressa Bernard~