Alain Mayrand
Alain’s parents say he was born with a pencil in his hands. His talent was obvious from the start and he spent so much time and energy drawing that he became a veritable child prodigy.
read moreBy the time he was 14 Alain was already earning money from his art. Cartoons, caricatures, drawings and paintings were regularly being commissioned and published. He studied fine arts at college and university (where he met his wife, Sophie) and was the go-to illustrator for one of the most prestigious marketing firms in Sherbrooke.
But something happened along the way to a career in arts. Music.
Perhaps it was the toll of unending hours spent with a pencil and brush, but when Alain rediscovered music at the age of 17 it felt fresh and exciting and immediately took over his life, taking the place that art had held before.
He approached music with a fury. 4 to 10 hour days of practice, composing and studying left little time for art, although he continued to work as an illustrator during this time.
His move to Vancouver in 1996 cut the ties to all his clients and he stopped all his art activity for the next 10 years.
In 2006 Alain started work on his book of piano music called “A Garden of Music”, which he used as an opportunity to dust off his drawing skills. The results were gorgeous pen and ink illustrations that show a maturity that was not present 10 years earlier. After having tasted drawing again Alain is now determined not to stop drawing aver again.
Alain Mayrand has two strong passions. For the first part of his live, drawing was the one passion that took holds of his life. He was drawing all the time as soon as he was able to hold a pen. He started selling his art and making a name for himself at the early age of 12. Alain never stopped drawing until his second passion came into his life, music.
Just like many geniuses Alain’s passion takes hold of him and nothing outside of that world exit. It his only now, at the age of 36 that Alain is able to reach a small balance between the two. Alain rediscovered his loved for drawing with the creation of his first book entitled “A Garden of Music”, 21 pieces for solo piano. All the music and all the illustrations where created by Alain himself. Alain’s inspiration for both music and art comes from the beauty of living which he finds through poetry, folk tales and his family.
The prints of his unique pen and ink illustration can be view on his wed site at www.alainmyrand.com. More of his original work and prints can be purchased and viewed on his online gallery at www.uniquelyoursart.com.
Iryna Nikitinska
Iryna is a Ukrainian born artist currently based in Vancouver, Canada. She is known for her natural talent for realistically interpreting stone structures onto her canvas.
read moreShe was born in science oriented family. Her parents really wanted Iryna to follow family traditions. She graduated Kiev State University, the cybernetic department. This formal training in computer programming and web-design is seen in her work in the form of precise lines and patterns.
After Iryna and her husband immigrated to Canada, she decided to change her career and put her attention in rising kids - four boys. This peaceful and happy environment brought back the thoughts about painting.
Over the past few years, painting and sketching have taken up a greater importance in her life. Iryna has set aside her math tutoring business to focus on her true passion. Iryna's artwork is now seen at various shows in the Vancouver area as well as online at www.uniquelyoursart.com.
"My artwork possesses two important elements – stone and life. The main idea is to show the unity of two opposites.
To most, the stone gives out a lifeless feeling while the flower represents life and energy. Through my art, my objective is to show that there is life in the stone. Flower and stone together could create a perfect combination. Stone is not only a barrier for life, but it can be a shelter, where life builds strength, resides and multiplies. There is not only the fight for life, but also peaceful reincarnation.
Through my art I want to share that energy of life that is present everywhere including such simple things as stones whose shapes and colours are filled with life and fascinate me.
The warm gentleness of the rocks and flowers are expressed with a palette of muted earth tones. My colours of choice are- yellow, red, and brown complemented by natural blues and greens. Acrylics are my medium of choice because of their quick drying time enabling a more spontaneous technique especially the use of dry brushing."
Sophie St-Pierre
Regardless of her natural talent for art Sophie St-Pierre choose a Business path earlier in her life. It is only now, 20 years later, that Sophie finally follows her heart and becomes a full time artist.
read moreSophie’s talent for drawing and painting was recognized and encouraged by her parents. At the age of 8 years old she had the privilege to study with master Picar, a famous artist of her home town. Sophie also completed a college degree in art at John Abbott College in Montreal. Then, she completed 3 years of art at Bihop’s University.
Because Sophie loves learning and believes in increasing her horizons and skills she took additional painting classes all over Canada: at Sherbrooke University, Montreal college, University of Calgary, and British Colombia. Now, for the past year and half Sophie has been taking acrylic studio classes with different professional artists.
