Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and try to imagine what a creative celebration looks like to you... That's the challenge we gave to four of our DeSerres ambassadors a few weeks ago. From this challenge came four beautiful works of art, which together, form a large creative collaboration that is meant to inspire joy, but also a sense of unity. We want to bring the celebrations into your home this holiday season by giving you the opportunity to purchase prints of these artworks. When you purchase a print, a $50 donation will be made to a non-profit organization of the artist’s choice. We invite you to learn more about the creative process behind each artwork, as well as the foundations they chose. Happy reading!
Enchantement magique by Alex Garant
To create this beauty of a painting, artist Alex Garant used Gamblin Oil Colours and looked back to some of her fondest childhood holiday memories. You can feel the nostalgia in every brushstroke: “For me, celebrating the holidays is all about nostalgia. When I reminisce about my childhood, I think of the magical moments I spent looking out the window, waiting for a mystical creature to bring me joyful trinkets. This painting is meant to have a bit of a vintage feel, it triggers certain emotions and depicts an ageless character embracing innocence and the enchanting wonders of celebration.”
Alex chose to donate to Ataxia Canada, an organization supporting research on ataxia, a symptom designating impaired coordination. Thank you, Alex! To purchase this artwork and give back to the organization, click here: see the print.
Temps & Espace by Lysa Jordan
Do you enjoy being present and savouring every moment of life? This was the thought that inspired Lysa Jordan to create her artwork using Golden High Flow Acrylics: "Time and space can be found in small moments. When we don't rush, but rather, savour every moment."
Lysa chose to donate to The Aristopaws, an organization specializing in the rescue of abandoned or stray animals. To purchase this artwork and give back to the organization, click here: see the print.
All Joy by Claire Desjardins
To paint All Joy, artist Claire Desjardins used Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylics and was inspired by her desire to celebrate the holidays with more love and inclusiveness this year: "The result of my creative process is exactly what you see: a wavy rainbow painting that I titled All Joy because I hope to share the joy I felt as I created it. I painted a wavy-shaped rainbow, nature's original, brilliant colour palette. The meaning of the colours of the rainbow has evolved, and of course, they represent the LGBTQ community. I want to celebrate the holidays with love and inclusiveness, and so I hope to convey that message in my holiday painting."
Claire chose to donate to Chez Doris, a shelter for vulnerable and homeless women. To purchase this artwork and give back to the organization, click here: see the print.
Winterberry by Tina Tran
Tina Tran's artwork is always beautifully vibrant. Naturally, the work of art she created for this challenge is bursting with colours. In fact, it was through reflecting on her favourite holiday colours that Tina found the inspiration she needed to paint her piece using Liquitex Acrylic Gouache: "When I thought about what to paint for this collaboration, I wanted something that suited the holidays, but could still be enjoyed year-round. That's when I settled on including winter berries, which are a beautiful shade of red that I thought would pair nicely with the subject's emerald-green hair."
Tina chose to donate to the Native Women’s Association of Canada, an organization representing the political voice of Indigenous women, girls and gender diverse people in Canada, inclusive of First Nations on and off reserve, status and non-status, disenfranchised, Métis and Inuit. To purchase this artwork and give back to the organization, click here: see the print.
Whether or not creativity plays an important role in your life, there's no denying that it unites us and brings us together. Projects like these remind us that we can make a difference, one brush stroke and one painting at a time. A big thank you to our four ambassadors for participating, coming together and rising to the challenge. We love celebrating local talent!
