Artistic applications
I have always been surrounded by the incredible world of art. It was a huge part of our family because my grandmother Susan Crerar, co-owned Hollander York Gallery in Toronto for over 20 years. She was passionate about supporting Canadian artists. We were exposed to all kinds of artwork from paintings to ceramic and iron pieces, to life size wooden sculptures and more.
As I continued to expand and explore different styles, I found art could bring a lot of Joy to the people around me. Being able to influence, and inspire young writers and artists. Meeting and hearing the stories of artists in Vancouver, on the street anonymously admired by the public. As a self taught artist, I began by using it as an aide to teach myself and memorize material, but it quickly became a passion that I was encouraged to pursue. Most importantly, painting allowed me to pursue a healthy way of expressing myself and balancing my mental health.
Like me, my art is ever evolving and I’m excited to share this new chapter in my life with you.
Meditation, mental health and art therapy.
After an on-the-job incident, I was unable to continue working for a while and felt a lot of pressure to return to my career. I confronted my mental health issues and started putting myself first. Combined with regular meditation, painting allowed me to exercise a form of art therapy, giving me the ability to handle and manage the challenging periods in my life.
“Be Joyful in everything you do.”
Painting from Ontario to British Columbia and back again
After graduating, I moved to Vancouver and began painting realism. The beauty of the province and exposure to wildlife encouraged me to explore new styles. I used acrylics to paint birds, and found inspiration in choosing ones that reflected important people in my life.
After a few years, I met Sale´, a writer (graffiti artist) who introduced me to the world of graffiti. Leveraging my experience with spray paint and his mentorship, I began to traverse the complicated and beautiful subculture of graffiti. I developed a style and reputation in Vancouver as a fun, colourful mystery artist whose characters could bring a smile to the locals.
The characters became so distinctive that I would create environmental scenes a la Where’s Waldo with them that featured intricate detail, hidden messages and actions. These large-scale pieces were fun, entertaining, nostalgic and beautiful—and they became some of my most popular commissions.
Now, I’ve found an endless well of inspiration in the beautiful flower arrangements and gardens I find in the Niagara region. This style allows me to bring back the realism training and merge it with the intricate lines of my graffiti work. I hope you like what you see!