Janette Slack

I’ve always been head-over-heels in love with animals. They are forever fun to watch and be with. There’s just nothing better than to see a dog racing away with an oversized branch between his jaws, or a pair of juvenile red squirrels playing circular tag around a tree. I’m constantly entertained by the chickadees and nuthatches at our feeders, and by our cat Peach as she snores, belly up, in the sun by the window. Each creature I meet has emotions and a personality all its own, emerging from beneath fur, feathers, or scales, eyeing the world from a vantage point that is completely unique.

Knowing about the many thousands of animals that are homeless, neglected, or abused, and the birds and other wild creatures too numerous to count that become displaced, orphaned, or injured as a result of man’s activities has made me want to lend a helping hand in some way. After volunteering at the Spay and Neuter Clinic for Cats for several years, I completed the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council’s certification course and am currently a volunteer at Wildlife Haven in Manitoba. I’ve also taken numerous courses relating to holistic animal care and behavior, and in 1997 completed a training workshop with Emergency Animal Rescue Service (United Animal Nations.)

Biography:

Growing up in Toronto, Ontario, I was always surrounded by rabbits, turtles, and a delightful assortment of cats. My mother, forever a lover of all things furred and feathered, and my father, a skiing and sailing enthusiast, spent a great deal of time immersing me into the world of the outdoors, nature, and animals. Though we lived in the suburbs during the week, weekends were always spent camping and hiking in the wilderness or at our small cabin in the woods.  During the summer we traveled to the east and west coasts, Vermont, and New England. Woven into these memories are the special encounters with wildlife: the deer, black bears, foxes and raccoons, as well as owls, eagles, waterfowl and songbirds. It seems they were always there with us, as big a part of our adventure as was hiking through the mountains or jumping waves in the ocean.

In 1977 I moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where I began a busy airline career, giving me the opportunity to travel to many places around the world. The memories of the animals I encountered along the way continue to stick with me. I still live in Winnipeg with my husband and our lovely feline, Peach, a Humane Society rescue.
 
For me, painting is a way to visually express the things that touch me emotionally. Exploration – a quiet walk in the woods or down a lonely stretch of beach – always brings with it the joy of fortuitous discovery. A tiny rose sparkling in October frost, a bumblebee dancing over wildflowers, or an unexpected glimpse of a hidden robin’s nest – these are far and away life’s most prized treasures, the images I want to capture on paper and on canvas.

I paint predominantly in watercolor, but also enjoy using pastel, ink, and acrylics. I’m very honored to be part of AHA, and hope that through my painting I can share some of nature’s magic, and most importantly, the animals that have always been my inspiration.

• Email jslack@mts.net