Pastel Artists Canada:
Aili Kurtis
Aili's (pronounced "eye-lee") reverence for the land and it's natural beauty have inspired her to paint the rhythms of the Canadian landscape in pastels, acrylics and oils. She portrays not only "what is" but explores the syncretic patterns that emerge from cast-shadows and reflections, adding an underlying abstract quality to her imagery.
Raised in Yellowknife, NWT, Aili studied art at the Ontario College of Art (Toronto) and the University of Quebec(Montreal), where she received a BA in Art Education.
Before devoting her life full time to her painting Aili was the Creative Director of Corel Corporation. She has also taught landscape painting at the Ottawa School of Art.
For the past seven years Aili has been a member of MainWorks Studios where she creates figurative and landscape paintings in a variety of media.
