Flora Doehler

I grow lots of flowers so that I can paint them.

I work and play in beautiful Bear River, Nova Scotia at Green Willow Studio.  I paint with oils, acrylic and watercolour – whatever inspires me. I also weave, sew and explore the surprises of monoprinting. And I garden, volunteer in the community, and count my good luck every day.

I moved here from my hometown, Toronto 5 years ago to pursue my yearning for the countryside and to create art fulltime.  In my late teenaged years in the 1960′s,  I attended a fulltime 3 year fine art and fine craft program that still operates today in Toronto. It was wonderful to be able to try out so many different mediums – clay, sculpture, printmaking, weaving and painting at the Art Center at Central Technical School.

Flora Doehler

From there I travelled to the German Democratic Republic to spend three years immersed in a new culture and language in socialist Berlin.  Those years had a profound influence on my world view, my artistic development and helped me to develop an understanding and compassion for others who find themselves ‘a foreigner in a foreign place.’ During my time at the Kunsthochschule Weissensee, Berlin I painted under the guidance of Professor Wolfram Schubert, a superb painter and printmaker.

After returning to Canada, I met Larry, my life partner and together we pursued art while raising 2 wonderful, creative children and working 9 – 5.

Thirty years later, in 2007 our children were grown and Larry and I were able to leave the city behind and to resume chasing the dream of painting and silversmithing fulltime in a rural village in eastern Canada.

You can see more paintings at my website FloraDoehler.ca

The Yellow Surprise by Flora Doehler, c.2010.