About

BIO

Alexandra McLaughlin is a self-taught Canadian painter, who’s work reflects her lifelong connection to Georgian Bay. A childhood spent running barefoot on the rocks, swimming off the dock, and boating around the largest freshwater archipelago in the world, fostered a special bond with the place that would eventually become her muse. Alex has an adventurous spirit which led to backpacking adventures abroad and an invaluable first career as a Toronto paramedic; but through all of these endeavours, she continued to feel a strong pull back towards the Bay. Since 2017, Alex has focused solely on her art from her home studio in Midland, Ontario (or out on the islands), getting to maximize precious painting time and be the present mother she has always wanted to be. She finds herself constantly in awe of the patterns, textures and interactions happening in nature and translates this seamlessly into vibrant, visceral paintings. Alex’s work is collected internationally, can be found in notable publications such as Create! Magazine and the I Like Your Work Summer Catalogue, was recently juried into the Canadian Society of Artists’ 2025 International Juried Show and The Artist project in Toronto.

ARTIST STATEMENT

My current artwork is reflective of my lifelong connection to Georgian Bay. It is a study of nostalgia, guided by introspection. By painting the water and landscape that surrounded me throughout my childhood, it feels like coming home, over and over again. I have always been fascinated by the patterns, textures and interactions happening in nature and felt very much a part of it, not just witness to it. I wish to draw the viewer of my work into the exact same place, and hopefully foster even greater appreciation and respect for the natural world.

Sitting on a dock, staring at the mesmerizing water has always been my favourite place to think, feel and dream. Painting the ever changing light on the water’s surface has not only become a meditative practice, but offers endless opportunities for me to play with perspective and composition. You will often find me taking hundreds of photos during a single sunset or creating quick, small scale watercolour studies while out exploring Georgian Bay islands. I then make larger scale acrylic paintings from these impressions, sometimes up to years later. My process relies heavily on prioritizing a healthy mind and body. The more I can be awake to my surroundings with all of my senses and make space for contemplation, the easier I find it to tap into what feels timely for me and bring something heartfelt to the canvas.

HABITAT COLLECTION STATEMENT

My whole life I knew how lucky I was to live in cottage country rather than commute to it (like so many do). I especially grew my appreciation for the area by leaving to pursue life and work in the city, then returning after 12 years. Upon moving back to Midland with my husband and two children it felt as if I could breathe deeply again. I didn’t even realize how much I missed the trees and the water.

Life on Georgian Bay has shaped me, as I know it has for many others. I was born into this environment all because my Opa (grandfather) bought a piece of property in Honey Harbour with his three friends back in 1971. This led to my father starting a marine contracting business at the age of 18, and my family having established local businesses for the past 50 years (through which I also got much of my early work experience). I got to spend more hours on the Bay than most cottagers or even locals do, from sunrise to sunset in all seasons - and every day our bond grew stronger. Anyone who visits Georgian Bay knows how precious, wild, and breathtakingly beautiful it is.

The Habitat collection features not only this stunning landscape, but the flora and fauna, wildlife, and people who share it. This variation naturally developed through a daily painting practice, guided by intuition and my intentional effort to not plan too far ahead. Letting the process guide me, I embraced whatever seemed to be calling me - a photo from the past or an urge to get out and paint that day en plein air. I hope to keep this the rhythm of my practice moving forward.

RECONNECT SERIES STATEMENT

The Reconnect series began with a spectacular sunset on August 3rd, 2023—one of those golden-hour moments after a storm on Georgian Bay that requires a run down to the dock. I’ve always been drawn to the energy of storms and the stillness that follows. There’s a rush of adrenaline, but more than that, a deep sense of presence. That evening, everything seemed to align—nature, memory, and emotion.

I had been moving through burnout and adjusting to a new chapter on a property with deep family roots. We had recently sold our family cottage and begun rebuilding my grandfather’s old place down the bay. He had passed away not long before, and we were learning to see this land through new eyes—his and our own. That sunset felt like a moment of clarity and connection, and without realizing it, I captured its unfolding drama on my phone. Later, those images became the foundation of this series.

The softer palette, the shifting skies, and the mirrored water all found their way into these paintings—and into Reconnect, the first piece in the series. It marked a turning point not just in my art, but in my sense of grounding and gratitude.

Out of this work grew a sub-series: The Ripple Effect Project. Inspired by the ripples made by fish feeding at dusk that same evening, what began as a simple painting exercise evolved into something deeply meaningful. My grandfather—my Opa—nurtured this ecosystem for years, feeding the fish with remnants from his daily catch. Now, the thriving life in the bay feels like a living memory of him. With each ripple I paint, I’m honouring his legacy and capturing the quiet, lasting impact of his care—a visual echo that will continue for generations.

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