Saskatchewan oil painter Vanessa Anderson seated beside her original monochrome landscape paintings, featuring a forest lake and nature scenes.
Handwritten signature of Vanessa Anderson, Saskatchewan landscape artist specializing in romantic oil paintings.

I paint the places I call home. Based in rural Saskatchewan, my work is inspired by the landscapes that surround me, from the expansive skies and unassuming prairies of the south to the boreal forests and lakes of the north.

I love the thrill of wonder I feel when I see sunlight gleaming off a head of wheat, towering storm clouds rolling in over the fields, or the perfect stillness of a northern lake. It makes me feel small in the presence of a Creator far greater than myself, and I aim to capture a little of that wonder on canvas.

Roots

Some of my earliest memories are of sitting at the dining table, watching my mom paint birch trees and blue skies from her easel in our kitchen. I inherited my two creative passions from my parents. My mom’s love of painting inspired me to pick up a brush, while my dad encouraged my interest in photography when he first taught me with his vintage film camera.

As a little girl and teenager, I was always sketching, painting, or wandering around with a camera. Eventually, as life happened, art moved into the background and became less of a focus for me. While navigating deep grief following the death of my husband, I picked up my brush and camera again and felt a part of myself returning. During that time, both art and faith played a significant role in my healing. What began as a source of comfort and peace gradually grew into a deeper love for painting, and continues to bring me joy through all seasons of life.

When I’m not painting, I can be found walking my golden retriever, playing piano, or curled up with a cup of tea in my hand and my nose in a book.


process

I’ve worked in a variety of mediums over the years, but oil painting was the first that truly felt like home. My first thought when I tried oil paints was, “where have you been all my life?” I love the richness of the colors, the ease of blending, and the freedom to experiment that comes with the paint’s long working time. Over time, working in oils has taught me to slow down and enjoy the process rather than focusing on the finished piece.

Most of my paintings begin with my own photographs, which I use as a reference to emphasize light, atmosphere, and stillness. My approach to painting has remained primarily self-taught, shaped through observation, practice, and experimentation rather than formal training. My work continues to evolve, but I’m drawn to a balance between realism and expressive, painterly brushwork.

Frequently Asked Questions

“The sweetest thing in all my life has been the longing—to reach the Mountain, to find the place where all the beauty came from.”

—C.S. Lewis, Till We Have Faces