Who am I?
My art is inspired by the natural world, from the beauty of our landscapes to the intricate details of the fauna and flora that surround us. I’m intrigued by particular moments outdoors; the reflection of sunlight off the petal of a flower at dawn, or the glimpse of a wild animal in an urban setting.
After being diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) in 2016, a rare autoimmune and neuro-inflammatory disease, I began using my nature photography to raise awareness of chronic pain conditions.
To-date, two of my nature photos have been recognized. From October 2018 through May 2019, one was included in the juried public art exposition “New Beginnings” - presented by the RBC Art & Heritage Centre in Montréal in collaboration with the McGill University Health Network (MUHC) - in the main entrance of the Montréal General Hospital.
In August 2021, one of my photos took second place with an Honourable Mention in the national “State of the Forest” nature photography contest run by The Bateman Foundation; a non-profit nature-art initiative established by Robert Bateman, one of Canada’s preeminent wildlife artists.
In early 2021 I expanded my artistic horizons by learning to paint, to help deal with the chronic neuropathic pain and cognitive impairment from CRPS. My goal was to create impressionistic yet identifiable scenes. While most beginners opt to learn with acrylic or oil paints, I rarely shy away from a challenge. I’ve always been drawn to the transparency and luminosity of watercolours, so adopted this as my medium.
My watercolours, both plein-air and in studio, embody a form of joyful stylized inpressionism. I've participated in more than thirty gallery and online exhibitions to-date, and two of my paintings have won awards; the national Art Awards of the Canadian Pain Society in 2021, and the City of Montréal's Pierrefonds Art Contest in 2022. Another of my watercolours was awarded an Honourable Mention in 2024, at the 130th anniversary exhibition of the historic Women's Art Society of Montreal (WASM).
In addition to the regular challenges of painting with watercolours, I also cope with a Mild Cognitive Impairment as a result of my CRPS along with its chronic neuropathic pain in my right – dominant – hand and arm. I create Art Despite Pain; happy, playful paintings and photographs that celebrate life and the beauty of nature. My #ArtDespitePain initiative raises awareness of chronic pain, while encouraging others who live with pain to use art - practice or appreciation - as a tool for pain management.
Awards
| May 2024 | Honourable Mention, Women’s Art Society of Montreal (WASM), 130th anniversary exhibition (for a watercolour) |
| Dec 2022 | 1st prize, City of Montréal Art Contest ("Pierrefonds Art Contest"), "Amateur Watercolour & Gouache" (for a watercolour) |
| Nov 2021 | 1st prize, 2021 Art Awards, Canadian Pain Society (for a watercolour) |
| Aug 2021 | Honourable Mention, “State of the Forest” Contest, The Bateman Foundation (for a nature photo) |
Media coverage & Interviews
| 07 Nov 2024; PAINtalks 2024 |
I co-presented a TEDtalk-style session at The Gesù in Montréal 07 November 2024, as part of PAINtalks 2024, hosted by the Quebec Network of Junior Pain Investigators (QNJPI). It's a free & bilingual annual event, in-person and live-streamed, that is open to the public. It was also recorded, so will soon be available on the QNJPI YouTube channel. My co-presented talk was with Dr. Zoha Deldar, of McGill University, discussing the implications of her neuroscience research on creative pursuits - and how my passion for the arts has impacted my own chronic pain from a rare disease; Further information available here. |
| Jul 2024; Magazine |
Profiled in Hot Press, the magazine of the Northwest Watercolor Society (NWWS); "Art Despite Pain" for the story of how I began learning to paint with watercolours as brain-plasticity or neuroplasticity training for my chronic pain and Mild Cognitive Impairment in2021, and how that has led to my Art Despite Pain initiative; Summer 2024; pages 10-11: please create a free NWWS account to view current & past issues of Hot Press or read my blog post about this honour. |
| May 2024; Television | Appearing in You Can't Ask That, an award-winning short-form documentary series from the CBC Gem and AMI-tv networks, in an episode on Chronic Pain. Filmed 04 Feb 2024 in Montréal, at Pixcom Productions Inc. My portions of this show, in which I answer personal questions about living with chronic pain, are in Episode 8 of Season 3 of the series; available online on the AMI-tv website; www.amiplus.ca/m/642nILIh/chronic-pain... or click here to view the Chronic Pain episode of "You Can't Ask That". |
| Jul 2023; Magazine |
Profiled in OT Now magazine (Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists) as "In Conversation: #ArtDespitePain; Sandra Woods", for my use of art to raise awareness of chronic pain and as a pain-management tool; Jul 2023; vol 26.4; page 8; https://caot.ca/document/8027/OT%20Now%20July%202023.pdf or click here to view this issue of OT Now. |
| Jun 2023: Artist profile |
Featured as "Artist of the Month" by YES Montréal, for how I use my art practice for chronic pain advocacy and as a means to help manage my own chronic pain and related Mild Cognitive Impairment; https://yesmontreal.ca/june-artist-of-the-month-sandra-woods/ or June (2023) Artist of the Month: Sandra Woods. |
| Aug 2022; Newspaper | Featured in The Suburban newspaper (Montréal), by Anthony Bonaparte; 02 Aug 2022, updated 05 Aug 2022; "What the Pop! free pop-up art show exhibition comes to Hudson"; https://www.thesuburban.com/arts_and_entertainment/arts/what-the-pop-free-pop-up-art-exhibition-comes-to-hudson-sunday-aug-7/article_15c7de44-1286-11ed-b6cc-f35327bfa297.html or click here to read the article online. |
Solo exhibitions, to-date
| Apr-Jun 2024 | "Watercolours on Two Wheels", McGill University, School of Continuing Studies, MCLL Lounge; Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal |
Group exhibitions & Art fairs (juried*)
| Mar 2025 | Upcoming: "Spring Art Expo d'Art", Artists Circle of the West Island, Pierrefonds Cultural Centre, Montréal |
| Jan-Mar 2025 | Upcoming: "Entre-Nous 2025", Trestler House National Historic Site, Vaudreuil-Dorion, near Montréal |
| Nov 2024-Jan 2025 | "Small works and One-of-a-Kind Exhibition", Viva Vida Gallery, Pointe-Claire Village (Montréal Island) * |
| Oct 2024-Jan 2025 | "Nature - Automne & Hiver" ("Nature: Fall & Winter"), Trestler House National Historic Site, Vaudreuil-Dorion, near Montréal |
| 23 Nov 2024 | "Christmas in the Country" holiday artisans & artists sale; organized by United 4 the Arts, Whitlock Golf & Country Club, Hudson QC (near Montréal) |
| Oct 2024 | "Fall Art Expo d'Art", Artists Circle of the West Island, Pierrefonds Cultural Centre, Montréal |
| Sep 2024 | "Blooms", Women’s Art Society of Montréal (WASM), Galerie BOA Gallery, Old Montréal * |
| Jul 2024 | "Summer Daydreams", Artists in Montréal (AiM), Galerie BOA Gallery, Old Montréal * |
| May 2024 | "Regeneration", Women’s Art Society of Montréal (WASM), Viva Vida Gallery, Pointe-Claire Village (Montréal); Honourable Mention * |
| Apr 2024 | "Spring Art Expo d'Art", Artists Circle of the West Island, Pierrefonds Cultural Centre, Montréal |
| Apr 2024 | "Shared Horizons" Art Awards, Canadian Pain Society (CPS) Annual Scientific Meeting, Ottawa Westin Hotel & paired virtual show |
| Feb-May 2024 | "Winter Art Show", Artists in Montréal (AiM), Virtual |
| Feb 2024 | "Painted Postcards", Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (LPAPA), Laguna Beach, CA; USA, Virtual * |
| Jan-Dec 2024 | "Members Only Online Exhibition", Women in Watercolor (WiW), International, Virtual |
| Jan-Mar 2024 | "Entre-Nous 2024", Trestler House National Historic Site, Vaudreuil-Dorion, near Montréal |
| Oct-Dec 2023 | "225th Anniversary Christmas Exhibition", Trestler House National Historic Site, Vaudreuil-Dorion, near Montréal * |
| 28-29 Oct 2023 | "Gathering of Artisans" art & artisan show, The Red Barn, Baie d'Urfé (Montréal Island) * |
| Sep-Oct 2023 | "Tune into YES", Le Lion d'Or (The Golden Lion), Montréal, and paired online show |
| Sep-Oct 2023 | Autumn "Art Expo d'Art", Artists Circle of the West Island, Pierrefonds Cultural Centre, Montréal |
| Jul 2023 | "Marvelous Montréal", Artists in Montréal (AiM), Valmi Gallery, Montréal, benefitting St. Justine’s Hospital * |
| Jun-Jul 2023 | "Pierrefonds Art Contest Exhibition", City of Montréal, Pierrefonds Cultural Centre * |
| May 2023 | "Women in Nature", Women’s Art Society of Montréal (WASM), Gallery Gora, Montréal * |
| Apr-May 2023 | "Pain and Social Life", 2023 Art Awards, Canadian Pain Society (CPS), Virtual * |
| Mar-Apr 2023 | "Spring Show", Artists Circle of the West Island, Pierrefonds Cultural Centre, Montréal |
| Jan-Mar 2023 | "Entre-Nous, 225th Anniversary", Trestler House National Historic Site, Vaudreuil-Dorion, near Montréal |
| Feb 2023 | "Valentine Virtual Art Show", Artists in Montréal (AiM), Virtual |
| Jan-Feb 2023 | "Painted Postcards", Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (LPAPA), LPAPA Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA; USA |
| Dec-Jan 2022/3 | "Pierrefonds Art Contest Exhibition", City of Montreal, Pierrefonds Library, Montréal; 1st Prize * |
| Sep 2022 | “Fall Exhibition”, Artists Circle of the West Island, Kirkland Library, Montréal |
| 07 Aug 2022 | “What the Pop!” outdoor art fair, YES Montréal, Village of Hudson, outside Montréal * |
| Aug 2022 | “In my childhood”, Artists in Montréal (AiM), to benefit the Make it Matter charity for children, Virtual |
| May 2022 | “Chrysalis”, Women’s Art Society of Montréal (WASM), Galerie Gora, Montréal * |
| May 2022 | "Pain and Mental Health", 2022 Art Awards, Canadian Pain Society (CPS), Virtual |
| Jan-Mar 2022 | "Entre-Nous 2022", Trestler House National Historic Site, Vaudreuil-Dorion, outside Montréal |
| Apr-Jun 2022 | “Art Expo 2022”, Artists Circle of the West Island, Virtual |
| Feb 2022 | "Valentine Virtual Art Show", Artists in Montréal (AiM), Virtual |
| Feb 2022 | "Painted Postcards", Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (LPAPA), USA, Virtual |
| Dec-Jan 2021/2 | "Pierrefonds Art Contest Exhibition", City of Montreal, Pierrefonds Library, Montréal * |
| Nov 2022 | "Anniversary Exhibition", Centre d’art Montréal Art Centre (CAMAC), Griffintown/Montréal * |
| Nov 2021 | “Imagining Pain”, 2021 Art Awards, Canadian Pain Society (CPS); 1st Prize (National), Virtual |
| Nov-Dec 2021 | “Autumn Art Show”, Artists Circle of the West Island, Virtual |
| Sep 2021 | “Fundraising Auction”, Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation, Montréal * |
| Aug 2021 | “State of the Forest Contest", The Bateman Foundation; 2nd Prize (National), Virtual |
| Oct-Jun 2018/9 | “New Beginnings”, RBC Art & Heritage Centre, McGill University Health Network (MUHC), in the main entrance and atrium of the Montreal General Hospital * |
Collections
| Since 2022 | Two of my watercolours are on display at the Hôpital Enfant-Jésus Hospital in Québec City, within the Cancer Pain & Supportive Care Research Lab of the Oncology Division of the Research Centre of the "CHU de Québec-Université Laval" |
Juries & Committees, as a volunteer
| 2023-2024 | Canadian Pain Society (National): Committee Member, 2024 Art Awards Committee; a "people's choice"-style national visual arts contest, with winning pieces determined by number of votes by organization members (who are predominantly healthcare professionals and researchers specialized in pain science and chronic pain treatment) |
| 2022 |
True Patriot Love Foundation (National): Committee Consultant, for a creative arts initiative for Military Members & Veterans |
| 2022 |
Healthcare Excellence Canada (National): Jury Member for the selection of a new commissioned artwork |
Artworks published in magazines (not as advertising)
| Zine; 8th Edition |
"From Idea to Reality": A self-written article on how my watercolour "One in 5 Canadians live with chronic pain" inspired me to create a 3D model of one of the semi-abstract figures in this painting, and noting that my art practice is intertwined with my chronic pain advocacy; RT Publications; Montréal, Spring 2024 (Mar 2024), vol 8; pages 17-18; https://recoverytransitionprogram.com/zine-8-print/ or click here to view this issue of Zine |
| Zine; 8th Edition | My watercolour "Nocturnal snail" is featured on this full page of the magazine; RT Publications; Montréal, Spring 2024 (Mar 2024), vol 8; page 35; https://recoverytransitionprogram.com/zine-8-print/ or click here to view this issue of Zine |
Education - Studied under (since 2021)
Renée Dion, SCA, Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs (near Montréal)
Mary-Anne Bartlett, Art Safari; Suffolk, England
Visual Arts Centre, Montréal; Various artists
Both in-person and virtual multi-day workshops with Fabio Cembranelli, David McEown, Michael Solovyev, and Thomas W. Schaller; virtual workshops with Andy Evansen, Mike Hernandez, and other award-winning artists.
Memberships
Artists' Circle of the West Island, Montréal
Artists in Montréal (AiM), Montréal
Atelier d'aquarelle le Partage, Laval
Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour (CSPWC), National
English Language Arts Network (ELAN), Montréal
Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA), National
Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (LPAPA), California, USA
National Organization for Arts in Health (NOAH), USA
Northwest Watercolor Society (NWWS), USA
Society of Canadian Artists (SCA), Canada
Women in Watercolor (WiW), International
Women's Art Society of Montréal (WASM), Montréal