One Ocean Expeditions upcoming Baffin Island trip .. a Q and A with me

We will soon be welcoming Canadian artist Doria Moodie onboard our Canadian Signature Experience, Baffin Island – Jewel of the High Arctic voyage, July 22nd – Aug 02. Doria is represented by Mountain Galleries at the Fairmont in Whistler, Banff, Jasper and Stratford where much of her work is displayed. As our onboard Artist-in-Residence, Doria will be leading art programming through workshops onboard and in the field, in presentations and through personal conversations. Budding artists of all abilities will be assisted in creating their own interpretations of the landscapes, people and wildlife of the Arctic. We caught up with Doria to find out what she is looking forward to most about this voyage.

OOE: We’re thrilled that you will be joining us on our Baffin Island – Jewel of the High Arctic voyage. What are you most looking forward to about this Canadian Signature Experience trip? 

 I love wild places, discovery and adventure. So I’m looking forward to that of course, but also to seeing and documenting the wildlife and landscapes through art. Also, I really enjoy people and look forward to meeting everyone on board and in the communities we visit.

OOE: You will be the artist-in-residence onboard. What will this entail? 

 It will depend on weather and the passengers’ interests, but I expect I”ll be focused on making my own art and on helping others with their artistic aspirations. I’ll have a number of activities for passengers to try, from print-making to animal portraits to painting landscapes, icebergs etc. I also enjoy portraiture if we have willing subjects.

OOE: How will our guests benefit from being onboard with you? 

I’ll be a resource to inspire them, supply materials and help them make their own art as a special memory of their trip.

 OOE: What subjects in the Arctic are you most excited to capture artistically?

 Wildlife, but also landscapes. Perhaps people.

 OOE: You are a strong advocate of bears in BC. What interests you in particular about these mammals? 

 Their intelligence and their need for our support to survive human encroachment and climate change. I feel we must show far more respect to our fellow animals on Earth. I’m on the Grizzly Bear Foundation Board and will be happy to show slides and talk about grizzlies and the Great Bear Rainforest.

OOE: What is your favourite artwork to date and why? 

 That’s a tough question! I always love the one I’m working on. But here’s a grizzly portrait I love, titled Respect (see below). It feels, to me,  like she is in communication with the viewer. And a polar bear painting, titled Nanuk, aka God’s Dog.  (based on a photo from Kevin Lamb, on an OOE trip last year) Okay, I have to include a landscape too! It’s titled Forest Magic. I find it tranquil and uplifting.

OOE: Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. Do you have any other comments?

 Only that I am very excited and honoured to have been invited to be the Artist-in-Residence on this trip!