I’m Dennis Major, a watercolour artist living in the countryside north of London, Ontario. It’s beautiful out here — farmland, woodlots, big skies — and if I’m fortunate, occasionally some of that beauty ends up in my paintings.

For most of my working life I was a software developer, but I was always drawn to painting. About eight years ago I decided to go for it, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I take art classes every year, and each time I come away with something new that pushes my work forward.

I chose watercolour because it gives me so much room to be creative. It’s not the easiest medium to learn — it has a mind of its own — but that’s what I love about it. There’s always something new to figure out.

I paint landscapes, florals, and wildlife, and I really enjoy getting outside to paint with the Gallery Painting Group. There’s something special about working en plein air — trying to capture the light before it changes on you. I’ve also shown my work with the London Community Artists, which is always a great experience. I love when someone stops to talk about a painting and you get to hear what they see in it.

My software background definitely gave me an eye for detail, and that comes through in my work. Lately though, I’ve been pushing myself to loosen up and paint more freely. It’s a fun challenge — learning when to be precise and when to just let the paint do its thing.

What I love most about painting is how it pulls me in completely. I’ll sit down to work on something and the next thing I know, hours have gone by. It’s the most relaxed I ever feel, and that’s reason enough to keep at it.