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Murielle Horsman
 Murielle is a watercolour artist residing in Thunder Bay. A lover of nature, she has spent most of her life in Northern Ontario. Following her formal education at Confederation College and Lakehead University, Murielle discovered watercolour and decided to devote her energy to painting. Studying under some of the best watercolour artists in North America, she has created a passionate style that is both unique and exciting. Combining vibrant colour with a love of the natural world that surrounds her, Murielle produces spectacular results.
Her award winning work has been exhibited in galleries and is displayed in many residences and corporate offices.
“The spontaneity and movement of watercolour is like no other medium, allowing me incredible freedom. The glow of watercolour is so exhilarating, it makes a finished painting absolutely shine. The crashing waves of Lake Superior, spectacular trees, rich flora and fauna that surround me are my inspiration. My goal is to share my passion for nature with the viewer.”
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Coralie Anderson - Leslie
 Coralie was born in Fort William in 1947 and raised in the city, as well as Terrace Bay, Schreiber, and Chapleau, returning to Thunder Bay in 1960. She attended Westgate Collegiate, then moved to Toronto to attend Ryerson Polytechnical Institute (now Ryerson University).
She remained in Toronto after graduating from the Secretarial Science programme, and joined the RCAF Reserve, where she met her husband, Ian. They were married in 1972 and lived in Aurora, Ontario for most of their life together.
Coralie began taking watercolour lessons in Aurora with local artist Dorothy Clark-McClure for about five years. In 2002, she relocated back to Thunder Bay to be closer to aging parents and set about finding a spot to continue painting. She has since taken classes and workshops with various local artists, and enjoying retirement in general.
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Sonja VanRooyen
 Sonja was born in Denmark and as a young child she immigrated to Canada . Sonja grew up and spent her married life in the Danish Community of Pass Lake which is nestled in the land of the Sleeping Giant surrounded by the waters of Lake Superior. The Sleeping Giant is one of Canada’s great wonders as well as the landmark for Thunder Bay where Sonja now resides. The North Shore of Lake Superior is a great inspiration for all local artists. Thunder Bay has many accomplished artists; some of whom have provided Sonja with valuable instructions and support. As well she has attended workshops with other prominent Canadian Artists and a number of International artists who have also had a hand in developing her artistic skills and aesthetic sense.
Painting Watercolours is her passion which also creates a welcome retreat from the pressures of operating a busy Bed and Breakfast and maintaining award winning gardens. She has hosted 14 garden tours over the years. Watercoulours is merely the most recent leg of a continuing artistic journey. Sonja is starting to branch into pastels and acrylics as well.
Since childhood Sonja has always had a strong sense of the artistic. As a young child she was always drawing, colouring, and rearranging her parent’s furniture – still doing that today. Interior and landscape design are one of her great joys. She was a volunteer with the art program at her children’s public school. Sonja studied to become a cake decorator which she pursued professionally for a number of years. In the late 70”s she achieved her Instructors certificate for Ceramics and opened a studio in her home for 25 students. This was the beginning of her artistic career.
When time permits she teaches classes and hosts workshops for other artists in her Sunroom as well as her Garden Studio at Sleeping Giant B&B
She is a member of Lakehead Visual Arts and her works are displayed at their gallery location each tourist season. Her paintings can also be viewed on her website
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Maria Matuszewska
Born in Szczecin, Poland in 1984, Maria lived in her hometown for 4 years before moving to Greece in 1988. She immigrated to Canada in 1993. Maria and her family settled in Thunder Bay and has called the city with a giant heart home ever since. As a result of her moves, Maria is fluent in 3 languages: Greek (her first language), Polish and English.
Maria attended Sir Winston Churchill high school. During her high school career, Maria’s love for art blossomed. She was in her element in Art class and revelled in the growth and development of her skill at this time, experimenting with different forms and techniques. Maria graduated from Churchill in 2002, leaving with numerous accolades for her artistic talents.
Having cultured a passion for architecture and design, Maria applied for and was accepted to the Interior Design program at Ryerson University in Toronto, ON. Upon graduation from Ryerson in 2006, Maria began to work for Toronto design firms. Her specialty was interior and exterior hand renderings of structures. Maria took a leave from design in 2007 to sail with the Canadian Forces in Victoria, B.C. The year of 2008 was a momentous occasion as Maria moved back home to Thunder Bay and began to produce artwork again.
Art has always been a passion and a means for Maria put her emotions onto canvas. It was her early life in Greece and the magnificence of Greek art, architecture, and culture that spurred Maria’s interest in art and design. Her two inspirational famous figures are Antonio Gaudi and Andy Warhol. Maria’s art is classified as abstract, post-modern contemporary art. She loves to employ the use of pastels, and in some cases oil paint and mixed media, in creating magnificent, vibrant pieces that reflect the human emotions. Maria’s inspiration comes from life experiences and the sentiment in her life while producing her pieces, making each creation truly an extension of herself. Her art pieces touch the viewer with emotion and invite the viewer to experience an aspect of her life. We hope that you too are touched by Maria’s artwork.
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