The Beamsville artist, who will be one of many participating in this weekend's Pelham Art Festival, has tried all mediums when it comes to her work, but she continues to favour watercolours.

"It just flows so smoothly," said Huisman. "It's got really luminescent colours and just makes your subject, whatever it is, look wonderful."

It's been three years since Huisman started to take painting seriously. She had been painting for all of her life, but decided to take a step back from her career in accounting to paint full time.

"I wanted to do something dynamic," said Huisman.

Her subjects vary, from nature to florals to landscapes. Falling in line with her favourite medium, however, is a favourite subject of water.

"Whether it's streams or rivers, I love doing moving water," she said. "The watercolours make your eyes move to the painting and it enhances the flow (of water)."

Her work varies from photographs to working en plein air. One of her most enjoyable sites to paint has been at Niagara wineries, she said, as part of the Niagara Art & Wine events the past two years. There she not only got to paint many of the wineries, but also meet new people and further raise awareness for her work.

Huisman is inspired by the surroundings of Niagara Region.

"Every time you look out the window there's a beautiful subject matter," she said. "From the lake to the escarpment, there is just so much here."

Huisman's work, she said, is all one-of-a-kind and original.

She has every subject, size and price range and she says local residents are welcome to see what she has to offer at the 22nd annual Pelham Art Festival this Mother's Day weekend, May 9-11 at the Pelham Arena, 1120 Haist St. in Fonthill. Of all the shows she has been to or participated in, she says, this is among the best.

"It is just beautifully done," said Huisman. "They have a wide variety of arts and it's all top quality. It's just overwhelming."

"If you go to just one show, this is the one."

Information on the festival, which is a fundraiser for Pelham libraries and community art projects, is available online at www.pelhamartfestival.com.