Dorene was born and raised on a farm in Manitoba where, from an early age, she became fascinated with the land and rugged machinery used to cultivate, sow and harvest the vast prairie acres. Powerful tractors, combines and threshing machines were all in evidence in her early art. Land, earth, sand, gravel and meandering cow paths have continued to feed the artist with seeds of inspiration for subsequent bodies of work.

"New Painting" re-interprets farmland in the context of personal boundaries showing both the freedom and limits of solid stone walls, raw land, fences, and gates. Surface patterns, complex layers, and textured grids portray both progression and consequence; work and its outcome.

Encaustic and collage provide an interesting and evocative media for Dorene's artworks. Heavy and tactile in a solid state, fluid and juicy as a liquid, wax can be worked with heat, brushes, tools and found objects to build up thick, colourful surfaces. The layers can be scraped down and gouged through to reveal hidden levels. Fabric, wood, sand, and paper can be embedded and exposed.