VANCOUVER ARTIST REACHES HEARTS OF THOUSANDS WITH THE BEAUTY OF HER PANDEMIC EXPERIENCE
Vancouver abstract painter, Donna Giraud, has yet again touched the hearts of thousands as she painted her interpretation of the beautiful moments she witnessed during her quarantine experience. Committed to spreading joy and optimism with every painting she creates, Donna’s most recent solo show not only had people in (happy) tears, she was able to start a conversation about how we are better when we do things together.
VANCOUVER ARTIST REACHES HEARTS OF THOUSANDS WITH THE BEAUTY OF HER PANDEMIC EXPERIENCE
Vancouver abstract painter, Donna Giraud, has yet again touched the hearts of thousands as she painted her interpretation of the beautiful moments she witnessed during her quarantine experience.
Committed to spreading joy and optimism with every painting she creates, Donna’s most recent solo show not only had people in (happy) tears, she was able to start a conversation about how we are better when we do things together. Her in person gallery experience was offered to only 42 lucky attendees who were both socially distanced and able to view a stunning and heart wrenching exhibit of 8 new pieces (which is now 50% sold out).
“JOINING FORCES CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS” 40x60 inches
“WE CAN ALL RELATE” 40x60 inches
The last 7 months have been filled with chaos, frustration, boredom and loss. Never have we as a human race all universally experienced something like this pandemic. Donna didn’t want this commonality of togetherness to go to waste and decided to paint her interpretation of all the beautiful moments she witnessed during her pandemic quarantine.
“I didn’t want this profound moment in history to be remembered for only its negativity. I wanted to shine light on the fact that despite all this chaos, we managed to come together in ways that made me proud to be a human.” -Donna
Whether it was singing on balconies or dropping in on a neighbour to see if they needed some groceries, this pandemic has shown Donna that we are capable of so much more when we connect and do it together.
“UNITED AS ONE” (diptych) 36x72 inches
Donna’s show was titled “Together Is Always Better” and for those that didn’t get the chance to see it in person, Donna is currently hosting a virtual experience on her website. Donna walks you through her gallery and explains the message and inspiration behind each piece.
With the intention of inclusiveness, Donna’s hope for the additional virtual show is to make you feel like you are surrounded by a community of people that care about you and that you can be proud of, but from the comfort and safety of your own home.
Click here or the button below to take your own journey of togetherness as you experience Donna’s beautiful art and moments of the COVID-19 pandemic.
And remember, together is always better!
D O N N A G I R A U D
Eternal Optimist * Ambassador of Kindness * Painter of Positivity
Donna is one of Vancouver’s most sought after abstract painters and her work can be seen in private and commercial collections all over North America.
Learn more about Donna Giraud
TOGETHER IS ALWAYS BETTER: AN ART SHOW ABOUT PANDEMIC PERSEVERANCE
Regardless of where you come from, how you’ve been brought up, what your core values are, no one can disagree that we all have COVID in common. Never has there been an event in history the whole world has experienced together on this level. Everyone can relate. Everyone has a story and a million emotions tied to this moment in time and I didn’t want this profound commonality to go unnoticed.
TOGETHER IS ALWAYS BETTER: AN ART SHOW ABOUT PANDEMIC PERSEVERANCE
Abstract Painter, Donna Giraud is (safely) opening up her gallery and hosting her 2nd solo art show of the year.
Join the COVID-19 trend of filling your empty walls with beautiful art and design a space that makes you happy every time you enter it.
On Saturday September 12th, be one of only 42 people that will get a chance to see Donna Giraud’s new art show in person titled,
“Together is Always Better.”
an art show about pandemic perseverance, how we are all the same and better together
(tickets not available until August 12th)
(entrance to the show is by appointment only. Book your time slot and tickets now)
Donna Giraud prides herself in how she approaches selling art. She believes that buying art should be a positively enjoyable experience and that art should make you feel something.
Her unique textural style and west coast inspired compositions lend themselves to a variety of design aesthetics and often make you feel inspired, hopeful and optimistic.
And her newest 8 pieces do just that. Donna reflects on the past 8 months during the COVID-19 pandemic and her art reflects and represents all the beautiful moments she witnessed during the world wide quarantine. She believes that the world came together in incredible ways and wants her artwork to remind you that we are always better together.
Show details
When: Saturday September 12th
Where: The Space and Art Gallery (1063 Hamilton Street, Vancouver BC)
Time: Book your time slot below (entrance is by appointment only)
(tickets available as of August 12th)
A NOTE FROM THE ARTIST ABOUT THE SHOW
Regardless of where you come from, how you’ve been brought up, what your core values are, no one can disagree that we all have COVID in common. Never has there been an event in history the whole world has experienced together on this level. Everyone can relate. Everyone has a story and a million emotions tied to this moment in time and I didn’t want this profound commonality to go unnoticed or under appreciated.
Shared experiences bring people together, and COVID has done just that. We all now know what a worldwide crisis feels like and I think, as a human race, have never been stronger.
Whether it was dropping in to check on a nearby neighbour, doing grocery pickups for those that couldn’t get out or singing on balconies to pass an otherwise boring evening, we got through this ( and are still getting through this) because we did it together.
I wanted this collection of art work to be a reminder of this moment in time. Not of the sickness or loss, but of the realization that we are all the same and that we can accomplish greatness if we do it together.
The 7 new pieces are about hope, connection, kindness, being united and hopefully an inspiration that moving forward is always better together.
D O N N A G I R A U D
An Interview About Me, By Me
It is so amazing that people genuinely find it fascinating that I get to create art for a living and that they want to take time out of their busy day to get to know me and what I do. So here’s an interview about me, by me. Just a couple of questions that seem to pop up regularly and answers I thought you might find interesting. So here we go!
An Interview About Me, By Me
Wether I am sitting at the gallery front desk talking to fellow artists and passers by, or chatting with people at a show like IDS Vancouver, I always get asked the same types of questions. What inspires you? (see my last blog post to discover the answer to this). What do you paint? Tell me about your process!! Etc etc etc.
It is so amazing that people genuinely find it fascinating that I get to create art for a living and that they want to take time out of their busy day to get to know me and what I do.
So here’s an interview about me, by me. Just a couple of questions that seem to pop up regularly and answers I thought you might find interesting. So here we go!
For those that know nothing about you, give us a little introduction about who you are and what you do.
My name is Donna Giraud and I am an acrylic abstract painter. I currently help run an artist run gallery in Yaletown called The Space An Art Gallery and I have been painting for 18 years. My work is very textural, often thought of looking like west coast landscapes and my work is greatly inspired by my world travels. I grew up on the North Shore and never thought that I would end up being an artist. I am a National Gold medal winning college soccer player, my first profession was a nurse at St Paul’s Hospital for 15 years but as of almost two years ago, I gave up my license to become a full time painter. I currently teach the best dam paint night paint class in the city (Paint with Donna) and I have artwork hanging in residential and commercial spaces all over North America. I just turned 40 years old and I am currently in the process of figuring out what is next.
What is your favorite thing about being an artist?
Naturally I want to say that my favorite thing about being an artist is that I get to explore my emotions and thoughts in a creative way and make pieces of art that inspire and move people. But if I have to choose the very best thing about being an artist is the fact that I get to create what each day looks like. Yes I have obligations and deadlines, but I get to decide how all that unravels. I have only myself to answer to and with that comes great freedom. Sometimes I get up in the morning with the intention of spending the whole day in the studio painting, but then find myself binge watching a whole season of Queer Eye instead. Typically, most bosses wouldn’t find this productive or appropriate, but sometimes I give myself permission to do those kind of things. I have lists, I have plans, I have schedules with appointment that all get done in an organized and professional manner, but there is nothing better than designing a day exactly how you want.
What is the hardest thing about being an artist?
The hardest thing about being an artist is actually the same answer as above. Having freedom creates the perfect opportunity for procrastination. I mentioned that it is totally ok to give yourself permission to binge watch tv once and a while, but with that comes the possibility of that becoming a regular occurrence. I have heard so many artists say this and sadly fall prey to the lack of routine. I promised myself that I wouldn’t be that norm and made it a point to be committed to my craft, to set schedules and alarms, to keep accountable, to set deadlines, to do regular check in’s with myself and surround myself with people that encourage me to keep going. I make mistakes but I am committed to keep moving forward where ever that takes me.
How do I handle criticism?
I had to learn a long time ago that I couldn’t let every negative comment or just an opinion for that matter, affect me. Appreciating art literally is the most subjective thing!! My work is not for everybody and I learned that very quickly when my dad straight up told me he didn’t like one of the pieces I created very early on in my career. Dad’s are supposed to support you and tell you everything you do is amazing. Well, that definitely didn’t happen and I have always been grateful for that moment. I realized I had to pay attention to what people were saying and take everything into consideration but not hold it too personally. Sometimes people just like to hear the sound of their own voice. Others have given me great insight that has helped me get to where I am today. But I always promised myself that I wouldn’t let the criticism get to me. If I did, it would be a very gloomy and negative life to live in and I just don’t have the space for that.
What does your art aim to say?
I have always struggled with this question. When someone asks me this, I awkwardly always feel like I need to be impressive and say something like, “This body of work depicts the inner turmoil of the…… or This work represents the shift and instability of the modern political climate.”
But the truth is, my answer is super real and simple. Each piece is always about an emotion or an experience I have had with the hope of putting a positive and calming twist on that specific emotion or experience. There are so many artists that are taking a stance on the serious topics (And I am not saying that we shouldn’t be having those conversations about the tough and serious topics) it’s just that I feel like we need some more joy and positivity in the world. I feel like I was put on the earth to create art that makes you think about the importance of kindness, finding that one thing that ignites passion in your life, encouraging connection in a fast paced technical world and or daring to dream about what your best life could be. All these topics are super relatable and I make it a point to always make people feel comfortable in front of my work. I don’t want to intimidate viewers with a stuffy artist statement. I want people to connect with regular, very day stuff and get them to feel joy when they see what I create.
How do you title your work?
In conjunction with the above answer, the titles of my work have always been one of my favorite parts of my artistic process. When I come up with the emotion or experience I want to paint about, I then write down a bunch of words that depict that emotion or experience. Once I have narrowed it down to one word, I then rearrange that words to make a new word and that becomes the title of the piece. Once people know this about my work, it becomes a game for them to try and figure out what word I have used in the title. The title then gives you insight into what the piece is about. (Click here to see my previous work and their titles. Try and figure out what word I had in mind)
Give us a little insight into Donna outside of the artist
I think a huge part of why I have managed to create a fairly successful art career is because I am not afraid to let people get to know the real me. I am an open book and feel that openness fosters better connection and leaves a lasting impression. Here are a few little fun facts about me……
Favorite color: Turquoise
Favorite beverage: White wine (Pinot Gris) (My favorite local winery is Country Vines in Richmond. Make sure you check them out!
Favorite book: Anything by Robin Sharma (eg. The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari)
Marital Status: Married for 1 year, one month and 8 days to the greatest man on the planet (Paul).
Cats or Dogs?: DOGS DOGS DOSG!!!! (sorry cat lovers) 3 years ago Paul and I brought home the sweetest, most energetic maltipoo you could get your hands on. We named her Wallis (like after Wallis Simpson) and our lives have never been the same. She has taught me what unconditional love is and brings a smile to my face a hundred times a day. Best decision we have ever made. Follow Wallis on Instagram @theworldofwallis
Favorite place on earth other than Vancouver: Tanzania
A typical Sunday: Eggs on toast and coffee, a local hike in the mountains with the hubby and Wallis, wine on our patio and a good movie. That or hosting a dinner party which we do once a month.
Random fact about you: I have moved 27 times in 40 years. I love setting up new spaces and creating a home. (I just bought a home in North Vancouver with my husband and sadly he says we are never moving again but I think I am ok with this being our forever home)
For more information about what I do or to see my artwork in person, head down to my gallery in Yaletown and let’s have a chat (1063 Hamilton Street, Vancouver BC). Or if you have a burning question that you just have to ask now, send me an email and I will do my best to get back to you as soon as I can (info@donnagiraud.com)
Donna Giraud
Travelling and it's Power to Transform and Inspire
What I didn’t know at the time was that this trip would be the catalyst for my love obsession of exploration and adventure. While in the Philippines, I discovered the power that different cultures, thoughts, ideas, ways of doing things had on me. I started to understand what patience was, I started to realize that there was so much more going on other than my little life back in Vancouver and I started to understand that I had so much to learn from the world. I knew I didn’t know everything and that I had a lot to figure out, I just never understood that the world could be such an incredible classroom.
Travelling and it’s Power to Transform and Inspire
About 14 years ago my best friend was travelling the world and was going to be making a short stopover in the Philippines to meet some family on her way down to Australia. I was 26 years old and the only travelling I had really done was to places like Mexico and Las Vegas and destinations in the US and Canada; places that were safe and lacking in real culture experiences.
I was going through a moment in life where I started to question things and asking myself what I wanted out of life. I think we all go through this stage (if not many times in our lives) but I will never forget the moment I decided to message my friend and tell (I didn’t ask) her that I was going to meet her in the Philippines and that I wanted to stay for a month. Her initial plan was just to stay for a week or so, meet some family and make her way to Australia where she thought her real adventure was. She totally jumped on board and I booked my ticket the next day and the planning for what would be the most influential trip of my life thus far began.
What I didn’t know at the time was that this trip would be the catalyst for my love and obsession with exploration and adventure. While in the Philippines, I discovered the power that different cultures, thoughts, ideas and ways of doing things had on me. I started to understand what patience was, I started to realize that there was so much more going on other than my little life back in Vancouver and I started to understand that I had so much to learn from the world. I knew I didn’t know everything and that I had a lot to figure out, I just never understood that the world could be such an incredible classroom.
Fast forward 14 years later, I have been to all the continents except for Antarctica (but my husband and I are already planning that adventure), 21 countries and I do not see an end to my travelling in sight.
Aside from the life lessons that travelling has and continues to teach me, one of the coolest things about going on these adventures around the world is the inspiration I get for my paintings and artistic expression.
The images above are from the Lantau to Big Buddha hike my husband and I did while in Hong Kong (We travelled to China in 2017 and visited Beijing, Shanghai, Macao and Hong Kong). (A word of advice, if you plan on doing this hike, please know that it has two summits and you need to prepare. It’s over 8 hours and you need to bring enough water and food so you don’t die/look like my hubby above!!)
The misty clouds that were below us and the teal green landscape and water definitely influenced me when I painted the above painting titled RENTS
Every time I go away, I am always looking around for things to inspire me. Whether it’s an obvious landscape with beautiful sunsets or mountain ranges or the texture in a cloth or the color of a cocktail, the opportunity to be inspired is always around us. All you have to do is keep your eyes and heart open to it.
What I have also realized is that you don’t need to jump on a plane to get inspired. We live in one of the most beautiful and awe inspiring places in the world and I get so much inspiration from just doing hikes in our own back yard!! The painting above was created because of the colors and textures I saw when my husband and I hiked the Saint Marks Summit in North Vancouver. It was a gloomy, rainy day and the view at the summit was completely fogged in, but I couldn’t help but notice the pops of green and the beauty in the reflections of the puddles. I came home and immediately started planning out this piece in the above image.
Inspiration for my artwork can come from any where! I travelled to the Okanagan for my bachelorette party last August and when I got home from this epic adventure, I was going through all the incredible photos I had taken and this one below caught my eye. There was something about the beauty of all my favorite ladies and how they all looked in their floral dresses. I loved all the color combinations and the texture that each of the fabrics gave off. I got the idea to combine those colors and textures with the composition of a more literal scene that I had seen so many times on my drives through BC and up to the Okanagan and the piece below was created.
My honeymoon to Tanzania last year in October was probably my most memorable trip I have had to date. Africa has always had a special place in my heart and I always knew that I had to get there. When my hubby and I were first dating he mentioned that if he ever got married, his dream would be to go on a African Safari for his honeymoon. Literally in that moment, I knew he was the man of my dreams. I had always had this thought on my bucket list and I finally found my partner in crime to explore the world with. Three years later we were married and our month long adventure to Tanzania and to the top of the highest freestanding mountain in the world (Mount Kilimanjaro) began.
I never expected the influence that this trip would have on my artwork. I have never seen color combinations like this before. The sunsets that happen at the equator and at 20,000 feet are things that every human should experience and see. The energy and kindness from the locals was another thing we were blown away by and that definitely came across in my artwork when I returned.
I was preparing for my 2019 solo art exhibition when I returned from my honeymoon and what I found most interesting was the color choices I was choosing for each of the upcoming artworks. I normally paint in the more neutral tones with blues but color was just oozing out of me when I created this show. And I certainly had Tanzania to thank for that.
When we travelled to Iceland in 2017, I had the feeling of being home. When I am surrounded by mountains, glaciers and waterfalls, I am my most true self. For two weeks, my husband and I travelled the treacherous Ring Road around the whole country and captured and experienced some of the world’s most beautiful wonders.
We summited the two newest mountains in the world, (Magdi and Modi), I had a facial/shower under a waterfall every morning and kept fit by doing planks on broken off pieces of glacier on Diamond Beach. (See pictures below)
And some of my favourite artwork of all time came from the inspiration I got from this trip. Every time I turned there was something new and wondrous to look at; The shape of the mountains, the texture/cracks of the land around the geysers, the sparkle from the thousands of broken glaciers, the vastness of the hardened lava fields………. I could seriously list a million more things that blew my mind!
So here is the moral of the story…….. TRAVEL TRAVEL TRAVEL!!!!! It is life changing. It doesn’t matter if you are not an artist, inspiration can affect so many more things than just artwork. And like I said before, it doesn’t have to cost thousands of dollars and you don’t have to travel across the world, just start local and see how your surroundings can truly affect you. Be open to all the subtle things that are around you and watch how your energy can change and how much you can learn.
Donna Giraud
Celebrating 9 years with IDS Vancouver
Upon writing this blog post, I did a lot of reflection about the last 9 years and how my artwork, career, vision and mentality have evolved and I can honestly say that IDS Vancouver has played one of the biggest roles that has gotten me where I am today. The show encompasses beauty and design coupled with innovativeness and ingenuity. But the words I think of most when I think of IDS Vancouver are friendship and support. They continue to to believe in my work and every year my career propels in new and exciting directions.
Celebrating 9 Years with IDS Vancouver
9 years ago, I was trying to figure out how I was going to get my artwork out there in the world for everyone to see (well maybe not everyone at that time, but enough to start creating some momentum).
And as the universe often does, an add for the One of a Kind Market as a feature area in the IDS West Show (now known as IDS Vancouver) was looking for 7 emerging artists for their new art section. They were offering a 10 foot wall at a discounted price and something just told me to submit my work.
Not knowing that this decision would change my life, I gracefully accepted when I found out a few weeks later that I had been one of the lucky ones selected for this exciting new feature at the show.
I will never forget that first show. I will never forget how much I prepared every detail (from my artist statements, rack cards, to my prices tags and email signup book, I wanted everything to be perfect). I will never forget that we didn’t have things like “Square” on my phone, so I had to write a receipt and people had to go to a central processing area to pay. I will never forget my first sale (of my largest piece at the time - 48x48 inches) to a fellow co-worker and her husband. And I will also never forget how that show created my first sense of community as it introduced me to 6 other artists (four of which are still in my life today) (Mike Soltis, Jon Shaw, Connie Flavelle and Nathalie Denise)
To my delight, that first show ignited and propelled my career to where it is today and I will forever be grateful to IDS Vancouver for giving me that first chance and now a yearly opportunity to share with the design world what my heart and soul creates.
The opportunities I have had because of this show have been endless. To name a few……
I get to showcase my work yearly in front of the city’s top designers
I have been a feature image on the IDS Vancouver Website
I landed a 10 page feature in Vancouver Home Magazine (page 92-102) which has lead to numerous commissions and serial collectors
I have become an internationally known artist and shipped my work all over North America AND
Had a dream opportunity of meeting the amazing and talented Designer Amanda (Forrest) Aerin because she showcased my art on an episode of CTV Morning Live (watch video here)
Upon writing this blog post, I did a lot of reflection about the last 9 years and how my artwork, career, vision and mentality has evolved and I can honestly say that IDS Vancouver has played one of the biggest roles that has gotten me where I am today.
The show encompasses beauty and design coupled with innovativeness and ingenuity. But the words I think of most when I think of IDS Vancouver are friendship and support. They continue to to believe in my work and every year my career propels in new and exciting directions.
I would like to take the time to thank the IDS Vancouver team for always believing in me and for welcoming me back each year. There are truly no words to describe how grateful I am.
For those of you who have not been to the show before, and to those who come every year, make sure you get your tickets now because I know for a fact that this year’s show is going to be one to remember.
Get your tickets below and make sure you tell all your friends to join you!
Purchase Tickets
And just in case you want to know what day you should come to the show, the Opening Night Party on Thursday September 26th is always the best! Grab yourself a cocktail and wander around the city’s most beautiful venue. Connect with your favourite creators and get ready to be inspired! (Remember that Friday is not open to the public)
Donna Giraud
My Three Favorite Artists
I always get asked, “Who are your favourite artists? Who inspires and motivates you?” So I thought this would be an awesome topic to share with you this month. It takes a village to be an artist and a part of the journey is surrounding yourself with fellow artists that will hold you up when you can’t do it on your own, who will be your supporters and promoters and who inspire you from afar.
My Three Favorite Artists
I was doing a blog topic brainstorming session with myself a few months back and I realized I always get asked, “Who are your favourite artists? Who inspires and motivates you?” So I thought this would be an awesome topic to share with you this month. It takes a village to be an artist and a part of the journey is surrounding yourself with fellow artists that will hold you up when you can’t do it on your own, who will be your supporters and promoters and who inspire you from afar.
These three incredible artists and amazing humans probably don’t know it, but they have helped influence, inspire and mould my journey as a creator. So I wanted to formally say “thank you” to them, and share them with you. I could write for hours and pages about all the things I love about each of these artists, but let’s just start with my favourite few reasons. Make sure you check out their websites and be sure to follow them on social media to find out all those other reasons that make them awesome!
ZOE PAWLAK
Zoe Pawlak probably needs no introduction. but in case you are not familiar with her and her work, she is an exceptionally well known Canadian Artist and Designer that has always had a special place in my heart. She is known for her gestural figurative paintings and dreamy abstract landscapes. Over the years, she has created a brand for herself that has taken the world by storm and I have always been in awe of her and how her artist journey has unfolded.
One of the things that I love most about Zoe (aside from her insanely gorgeous art) is her philosophy on customer service and building relationships. I have always prided myself on creating an unforgettable experience when people come to view and buy my work and Zoe lives and breathes this as well. She values her admirers, her collectors and her fans and she never hesitates to make sure they all know how much she appreciates each of them. (I read an article once that shared how Zoe used to invite collectors to her place and prepare them a good home cooked meal so she could really get to know those that supported her. That blew my mind and only put her higher on my pedestal).
I’ve had the honor of meeting Zoe on a few occasions and what always makes me smile and love her even more, is that she always makes it a point to come over and say hello. She doesn’t have to, she’s busy enough that I wouldn’t expect her to, but she does. That kind of simple gesture doesn’t go unnoticed and has the power to create lasting impressions.
Zoe has found a way to emphasize a component of the art world that is often lacking (authentic relationships and connection) and now she is a common household name and definitely one of my favorite artists of all time!
BLU SMITH
I had the privilege of meeting Blu when we exhibited together at the 2017 IDS Vancouver Design Show. Our art shared a wall for four days and in the quieter moments of the show, I got to know how delightful, funny, determined and talented this man truly is.
Victoria, BC based, Blu creates probably my favorite abstract art I have ever seen. I know that’s a bold statement, but there is just something about the bold colors he uses, his nature inspired compositions and then the insanely powerful and unparalleled “light” he creates that just spanks you in the face with wonder and awe in every piece that he makes. I have never been more moved looking at art than I have with Blu’s work and that is why he is definitely in my top 3 favorite creators.
Art is supposed to make you feel something when you look at it and Blu always delivers that. I always find that if I am feeling blue (hahaha) or need a little energy pick me up or just want some extra added pep in my step, I head straight to Blu’s instagram page. Nothing sparks joy more than revelling in the brilliance he creates.
Aside from being a talented painter, he is also extremely hard working and determined. He is represented by numerous galleries all over North America and he could very well just relax and enjoy those successes. But what I continue to see, is that he is always looking for ways to be in the studio and grow as an artist. Most artists would say that this is normal and that we all do this, but there is this delightful intensity that I feel sets him apart from the rest of us.
One day I will get my very own Blu Smith original. In the meantime, I am excited to continue revelling in his talents and admiring his work ethic from afar and will forever be grateful that I get to say that I exhibited beside him.
I have never met a harder working and more prolific painter than Charlie Easton.
Charlie has a studio in Vancouver, but let’s face it, he’s known most for his epic adventures out into the wilderness where he creates his masterpieces. Adorned with a jacket and toque, or sandals and drones, Charlie travels to some of the most beautiful places the world has to offer and through his recreations of the scenery he sees, he allows us to come on that journey with him.
Despite being a full time husband and dad, Charlie never ceases to amaze me with how dedicated he is to his craft. Whenever I am feeling unmotivated to get into the studio to create, I often find myself saying “if Charlie can lug all his painting gear up a dang mountain in the dead of winter, then I can surely take my glass of wine downstairs and get to work.”
Charlie paints beautiful landscapes, but what I love most, is that he has taken painting landscapes to a whole new level. He has been creative with his ability to build a brand around his adventures and I have always thought this was such a unique way of stepping outside the box and being different. It is really hard to be a thriving artist and Charlie brilliantly found a way to shine.
I am so proud to be a Vancouver artist. This city is crawling with incredible talent and I am grateful that I get to be a part of this group that shares their talents through creativity. Whether you are admiring from afar or actually able to collect original art, I think it is so important that you make sure you source out your local artists that you adore and let them know how important they are to you.
Zoe, Blu and Charlie, thank you for your undeniable talents, your never ending inspiration and for never giving up on what you were clearly put on this earth to do!
