Lorne Winters

Water lilies have long held a quiet presence in the history of painting. For Lorne Winters, they became a natural point of return, inspired in part by the work of Claude Monet and his ability to capture light, atmosphere, and reflection with such sensitivity. This series began with a simple intention, to explore how oil paint could be used in a softer, more diffused way. Moving away from a traditional wet-on-wet approach, Lorne worked the surface of the canvas to achieve a pastel-like quality, allowing colour to feel lighter, more atmospheric, and gently layered.

The water lily became the ideal subject for this exploration. It offers both structure and freedom, form and reflection, surface and depth. Each painting shifts in palette and mood, while remaining anchored in a shared sense of stillness.

This work continues a thread that has been present in Lorne’s earlier hay bale series, where simplicity and repetition created a quiet sense of calm. In the lily pond, that same feeling is expanded. The compositions invite the viewer to slow down, to notice subtle changes in light and colour, and to experience the beauty that exists in simplicity.

There is no need to search for complexity here. The work rests in presence, in reflection, and in the quiet moments that often go unseen.

Lorne Winters is a Canadian oil painter based in Glen Williams, Ontario, with over five decades of experience in the visual arts. His career began as a commercial artist, working with internationally recognized brands such as Coca-Cola, Nike, and General Motors, before transitioning fully into fine art. Lorne is recognized for his rare breadth as a painter, moving with ease between still life, landscape, and figurative work. This versatility reflects both his technical mastery and his deep sensitivity to subject, allowing each body of work to feel distinct while remaining unmistakably his own. Today, he focuses on creating expressive oil paintings that explore light, atmosphere, and the quiet beauty found in everyday moments. His recent work centers on water lilies, where reflection and stillness take centre stage, inviting the viewer into a more contemplative space. Lorne works from his studio at the Williams Mill Creative Arts Studios, where he also teaches and mentors emerging artists. His philosophy, “not perfection, but purity,” continues to guide both his creative process and his teaching.