HISTORY AND JOURNEY TO NOVA SCOTIA

I had an amazing mentor.  My Russian-born, maternal grandad, George Sawatsky was not only a gifted pianist, but an artist and an encourager of the arts.  Early in my life, grandad unleashed art and music in my life by training, encouragement and support—with instruction and supplies.  I remember as young as about seven years old, oil painting on canvas on my own easel that my grandad supplied for me.  I would often be sitting in his studio with about a dozen 40-75-year old people.  They would treat me as their peer.  After all, I was George’s granddaughter.  Grandad insisted that the arts were not whimsical fancies but God-given gifts that needed continual practice to perfect.  My mother concurred with her father – so I diligently practiced my violin, the piano, my voice and creating art work.  These creative forces did flow naturally and innovatively, but I realized at an early age, that they became more creative and ‘perfect’ through continual training. 

Over the years I have travelled back and forth from British Columbia (my father, William MacLellan moved from NS to BC where he met my mother – and the rest is indeed, history) to Nova Scotia.  My father had 10 siblings—these 11 MacLellans have offspring that number to 31 first cousins. Lots to visit! Music seemed to be in the MacLellan veins - with numerous MacLellan uncles that could 'fiddle'. 

I always loved Nova Scotia, and I knew that once my three children were grown and settled in their careers, that I would move to Nova Scotia.  I made that trip in early 2017.  Presently, I am living along the Minas Basin in the Bay of Fundy, just outside Truro, NS.  My backyard (Clifton, S2-4 is my backyard in winter) provides inspiration to my creation of Maritime vistas and practicing music.  However, I travel the Maritimes in pursuit of finding new vistas to re-present in art.