Q. What do you love about creating art? Besides keeping my hands and mind busy, seeing, or making art of any kind makes me happy. There is this magical quality of watching something beautiful appear beneath your own hands that gives me such a rewarding feeling.
Q. When did you start painting?
While I did dabble with painting over the years it was during Covid lockdown that I decided to take watercolour classes online. I discovered a wonderful teacher from Poland, Chris Kowalski, who I highly recommend (website:Esperoart.com). His was a methodical, step-by-step approach that really helped develop my skills and upped my game so much as to make me like painting more than ever.
◄ Young Christine’s Dream
Q. What medium do you work in?
Watercolour
To be honest, it can terrify me sometimes that I might mess up, so I often step back and reflect for a while, and I really take time to consider choices and prepare by doing testing samples and strokes on the side. Because I started painting later in life, I lack the confidence most artists might have and suffer from a bit of imposter syndrome where I can’t truly believe I know how to do this, but then it turns out I do! Such a lovely and surprising satisfaction. Q. What is your favourite piece so far? “Young Christine’s Dream” which I created while taking the online class. This painting is like a whimsical narrative of my own personal story of how I ended up living on PEI. The subject is a summery-dressed woman in her 40’s who is riding an old school bike near a beach. One sees by the flowing head scarf that there is that lovely breeze that comes by being near the shore, and yet the viewer doesn’t see her face. That is because she is gazing; not ahead of her, but at the
ocean beyond. In her bike’s front basket is a book titled “Anne of Green Gables”. This painting represents my being blessed that my dream came true! Q. Are your paintings available for purchase? Yes, and in various sizes. You can find my work at the Inn at Bay Fortune, Carr’s Oyster Bar and my shop, Material Girl Fabrics. Q. You also have a business. Tell us a bit about that? l founded Material Girl Fabrics in March 2018 and it is a custom home furnishing shop. We have the largest fabric library in the Maritimes, with loads of samples to browse through and choose from. We make drapery, cushions and pillows and also upholster furniture. Material Girl also offers alterations on clothing, and repairs on heavy duty items like boats, recreational vehicles, and patio enclosures. I and my staff love to help customers with their own pursuit of art and beauty within their living spaces.
Q. What inspires you?
I’m primarily inspired by beauty and colour. The challenge is to make my paintings have a vibrancy that sets them apart from classical realism. Q. What is your favourite subject to paint? Typically, my favourites are nature and creatures related to water or water- themed scenes, most likely inspired by living on what I consider the most beautiful island of all. I usually treat these subjects in either a whimsical or serene manner rather than moody or dark.
Q. How long does it take to complete a piece?
It can take me weeks to complete a composition because watercolour can be a tricky, unforgiving medium in that the whites are created by the paper, and you can’t really overpaint or erase mistakes.
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