About Teressa Bernard
Teressa Bernard is a Canadian artist whose creative spirit has endured through the many seasons of her life. From the time she was a young girl, Teressa found herself drawn— quite literally—to the world of art. Whether she was sketching in class or creating posters for school events, her natural talent stood out early. But like many artists of her generation, she was steered away from pursuing art professionally. Her parents believed a living couldn’t be made from painting, and art school was never in the cards.
Still, the pull of creativity never left her. Life, in all its twists and turns, would sometimes move her away from art—but she always found her way back. Teressa’s journey is a testament to the quiet but powerful voice inside those who are born to create.
What began as a personal passion eventually bloomed into a professional path. After taking a watercolor class, Teressa was invited to teach—and that one invitation sparked a new chapter. With no formal art or teaching degree, she went on to teach watercolor and mixed media events across British Columbia—from Vancouver and the Lower Mainland to Vancouver Island, Fort St. John and in between. In every class, she found joy not only in the art, but in the people it brought into her life.
In 1986, Teressa was accepted as an Active Member of the Federation of Canadian Artists, and through years of dedication, she achieved the title of SFCA—the Federation’s highest level of membership. During her time with the organization, she won many awards, served on the Board of Directors, juried many exhibitions, and taught numerous events, helping to nurture the creative community that helped shape her own journey.
Over the years, Teressa has worked in watercolor, acrylics, mixed media, monotypes, collage, and digital art. Her work is deeply exploratory, often blending techniques and materials to reflect her mood, memory, or sense of play. A deep love for color, texture, and trees infuses her larger works—semi-abstract, vivid expressions of feeling and form. In contrast, her small ink sketches and whimsical drawings tell quieter, more personal stories. Many were inspired by childhood memories, like doodling with her father while playing crib, layering marks and laughter together one line at a time.
Her whimsical series—filled with humor, charm, and subtle reflection—emerged especially during the isolation of the COVID years. “I felt very small,” Teressa says, “so I made small paintings.” These works—tiny gardens, fantasy creatures, and playful pen-and-ink worlds—offered lightness in dark times.
Today, Teressa continues to follow that spark of creation. Whether working digitally on her iPad or painting on canvas, her joy is in the process. She paints not only what she sees, but what she feels. Her art invites us into a life fully lived—with resilience, humor, imagination, and heart.
Artist Interview and Series Overview
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