Wendy Bermingham

Wendy Bermingham, an Ontario College of Art and Design graduate, finds inspiration in the complex shapes and vibrant colours of tangled undergrowth. Using oil paints with brush and palette knife, she creates richly textured, dynamic compositions that invite viewers to explore a secret world within the wild garden. A passionate plein air painter, Wendy’s evolving work celebrates nature’s patterns and movement. She is an elected member of the Ontario Society of Artists and the Society of Canadian Artists.As an artist of the contemporary landscape, what currently captivates me, is the complexity of shapes and colours found in tangled under growth. I use both brush and palette knife to bring to life the textures and patterns I see. I delight in the exploration of colour and composition to create a sense of movement and flow in my paintings. I have a deep connection to nature and to design. They both attract me with their endless bouquet of complex shapes. I’m especially attracted to the lines, patterns and curves of the flora and fauna that lie at the periphery of forests. I love the abstract shapes, the tangled lines, and textured patterns that all swirl together in a kaleidoscope of colour. Working from top to bottom, I add thicker layers to create depth, patterns in leaves, fine lines, and abstract shapes. Although I paint a complex subject, I am willing to let the unexpected happen and direct how my painting will look in the end. This is when I’m most happy as an artist. I want the viewer to feel every brush of paint and to discover
upon closer inspection, a secret world found deep inside the untamed, wild garden. A world that would otherwise be passed by.

A b o u t t h e A r t i s t

Wendy Bermingham grew up in the small town of Aurora Ontario. Graduating from the Ontario College of Art and Design in 1985 with a major in Communication and Design, Wendy won th prestigious Southham Scholarship for Excellence and fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming an artist. Moving to Toronto, Wendy enjoyed working as a freelance assembly artist for a short time but later developed a successful career as a graphic designer at MCG Graphics, a close knit, in- house studio of Ogilvy and Mather Advertising. She worked with major accounts such as Canadian Pacific and Minera Mines.

outside painting plein air and has never looked back. Wendy has traveled throughout Ontario, Europe and USA to paint, but it is the Canadian landscape where her true passion lies. Painting exclusively in oil, Wendy uses both brush and palette knife, utilizing their unique marks to create the texture, and movement found in her colourful paintings. Wendy considers her artistic evolution as an ever-changing and unending journey.

Wendy is an elected member of the Ontario Society of Artists and the Society of Canadian Artists and a member of the East Central Ontario Art Association. Her work can be found in private collections throughout Canada and the United States.