Biography

Eha Onno (pronounced Ay-ha Oh-no)  

I was born in 1961 in Seattle, Washington.  For the first 10 years of my life we had our paternal grandparents living with us and spoke Estonian at home.  I learned to sew and weave from my mother.  She encouraged me in any artistic and creative endeavors.  My father has done photography for as long as I can remember; I received my first camera (with square flash cube) around age 12. At age 16 I got to spend time with my godmother, the painter Mai Onno, in Mexico.  I have lived with her powerful images all of my life.

The University of Washington provided me with my first experience away from home. There I studied drawing, Spanish, and Art History.  In 1980, I moved to Vancouver, BC.  I was fortunate to take courses in drawing and art history with Sinclair Healy; painting with Joyce Woods and Peter Aspell.  Thoughts of Peter's work and incredible passion for art still move me.  I took a bunch of other courses at UBC (over many years) that have given me a day job.

I love to listen to music while I paint.  Current favourites include Ani DiFranco, Santana, Yes, Mark James Fortin, Lyle Lovett, and Ridley Bent.

In 2006, after enjoying Pender Island part-time for years, my partner and I moved here.  Here I enjoy doing photography and painting more regularly.  Having done much abstract acrylic painting over the years, I am now exploring more experimental and mixed media work. 

For my art work, I've had much great support over the years:  my partner, my parents, my art instructors, friends, Keith & Barb at Morning Bay Winery, my patrons, my fellow artists, and those who have just come out to look at my shows.  My greatest thrill this year was completing 2 large paintings done on commission (Borborygmus and Magnetism).