Collective Art Project: Time Lines, Sept. 26-27, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at 125 Garden Ave., North Vancouver. Part of North Shore Culture Days, which takes place Sept. 25-27 at various locations. Visit artsoffice.ca or culturedays.ca for details.
Opportunity awaits all those who aspire to create visual art but panic at the thought of drawing something in the likeness of anything.
Mixed media artist Sandrine Pelissier and expressive arts facilitator Sophie Babeanu are inviting people to take part in a collective art project called Time Lines. No drawing skills are required. Participants will be asked to simply write a few words along pre-drawn guidelines. Once finished, the text will form a visual representation of a cross-set for North section of a tree.
"A lot of the time people are a bit intimidated to draw or paint, so we want to make it easy for them to participate," says Pelissier, who asks that participants bring along a non-perishable food donation to support the Harvest Project.
When people arrive at her studio on Garden Avenue, they will be greeted with a relaxing recording Babeanu has put together that encourages listeners to share a piece of wisdom. They will then be directed to a large piece of paper with concentric circles drawn on it and given the opportunity to write their words of wisdom along the gently curving lines. Pelissier expects the final product will contain a vast array of penmanship styles, languages and ideas.
"So, it should be fun to read," she says. "The more people, the more circles, the bigger the painting."
At the end of the weekend, she plans to mount and varnish the artwork. Those who contributed to the piece can enter a draw to win the original and those who don't win will be able to purchase prints, with proceeds benefitting the Harvest Project.
The Time Lines project is part of Culture Days, an annual Canada-wide event that happens Sept. 25, 26 and 27 and sees artists, cultural groups and volunteers self-mobilize to host free participatory public activities. On the North Shore alone there are more than 40 free events and hands-on activities set to take place.
Pelissier and Babeanu decided their collaborative art project should result in the image of a tree to reflect one of Pelissier's favourite muses.
"Most of my work in landscapes is related to the forests and the trees," she explains. "I'm really inspired by the everyday life around me."
As a resident of the Upper Lonsdale area, Princess Park is one of her top spots to go walking and gather creative energy.
Originally from France, Pelissier moved to Canada 16 years ago and has been painting ever since. While many artists struggle to define their own work, she has found that "Zen Art Nouveau" is a fairly accurate descriptor of her style.
"What I really like to do is mix elements of painting with elements of drawing," she says, noting she often likes to create repetitive patterns inspired by nature. "To me, it's almost like a meditation thing because it takes me a lot of time, but then it's also very relaxing," she says. "That's where the zen part comes from."
Her French heritage also influences her work, particularly the intricate linear designs and flowing curves characteristic of Art Nouveau that can be seen all over Paris.
In addition to making and selling paintings, Pelissier also teaches a variety of art classes and workshops at her studio. For her and Babeanu, Time Lines offers a way for people to express themselves through art, without the intimidation factor.
"It's a way to make it more accessible to everybody," Pelissier says.
