Celebrating Canadian Creativity: Meet Four Artists Forging New Forms in the Art World
- Oct 06, 2023
- Canadiana
- 10 minute read
Jean Paul Riopelle may be best known for his colourful mosaics, but he wasn’t afraid to experiment with many different art styles and techniques throughout his storied career. Following his creative intuition is ultimately what led Riopelle to become one of the most important and influential Canadian artists of the 20th century.
Today, art in Canada is on the rise. According to Canada Council for the Arts, Canada’s culture GDP rose 8.3% to $54.8 billion in 2021, which includes the domains of visual and applied arts. This is evident in the outpouring of talent we have here in Canada, and we are lucky to see this creativity expressed through a variety of means all across the country—whether it takes form as a public mural or at a local craft show.
We sat down to talk to four talented Canadian artists who are expressing their creativity and innovating art forms in their own unique way. Discover their stories below.
Top left: Between the Birch, Kathryn Spooner Bossy
Top right: Reclaiming the Prairie, Candace Lipischak
Bottom left: Danny Perkins
Bottom right: Kalkidan Assefa
Jean Paul Riopelle may be best known for his colourful mosaics, but he wasn’t afraid to experiment with many different art styles and techniques throughout his storied career. Following his creative intuition is ultimately what led Riopelle to become one of the most important and influential Canadian artists of the 20th century.
Today, art in Canada is on the rise. According to Canada Council for the Arts, Canada’s culture GDP rose 8.3% to $54.8 billion in 2021, which includes the domains of visual and applied arts. This is evident in the outpouring of talent we have here in Canada, and we are lucky to see this creativity expressed through a variety of means all across the country—whether it takes form as a public mural or at a local craft show.
We sat down to talk to four talented Canadian artists who are expressing their creativity and innovating art forms in their own unique way. Discover their stories below.
Kathryn Spooner Bossy
“What would Riopelle do?” is a thought often on Kathryn Spooner Bossy’s mind.
The graphic designer-turned-stained glass artist-turned mosaic aficionado has held a deep appreciation for the Montreal-born artist ever since studying his art during her college years. Over the course of Spooner Bossy’s 25-year-long art career (both as a creator and a teacher), Riopelle has remained an important artist to her—and his work continues to inspire her to this day.
Sunday on Lake Ontario, Kathryn Spooner Bossy
“Riopelle’s work is calming, it’s thoughtful, there’s depth,” says Spooner Bossy, “There’s something [about it] that just makes me feel so happy. And it’s so Canadian. There are so many of his pieces that are so special and inspiring.”
After living and working all around the world—including in Quebec, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Australia—Spooner Bossy currently resides in Renfrew, Ontario, only a short drive from where she grew up in Ottawa.
Using glass, beads, home-made paper, upcycled china, and other found objects (including those found “mudlarking” in London’s River Thames), Spooner Bossy’s adventure-filled life and whimsical style parlay into her ability to meaningfully capture moments and memories in her mosaics. A nostalgic element often strings her pieces together, and, for her, the art form is all about authenticity. Birch trees, clothing lines, and sailboats on the water are commonly showcased in her work.
“My artwork […] just comes from within, and that’s how I’ve always done it,” says Spooner Bossy, “Art […] connects you with how you’re feeling. I hope [someone who views my art] gets the same connected feeling that I am feeling. Or I hope that that piece of laundry on the line just makes them laugh, or have a memory of something that’s happy.”
Between the Birch and Summer Laundry, Kathryn Spooner Bossy
Regarding our newest commemorative circulation coin celebrating the 100th anniversary of Jean Paul Riopelle’s birth, “It’s really important for people to recognize artists. And [Riopelle] was a really important artist for this country, and he paved the way for a lot of other artists, and he was very collaborative and was quite open. And I think that’s a really good message for Canadians to see.”
Her advice for aspiring creatives? “Just do what feels right for you. Run towards what lights you up. Just don’t ever stop doing it, […] even if it’s just for you.”
Tree of Life, 4 ft x 36 ft. Bonnechere Manor, Renfrew. For Kathryn Spooner Bossy, this project was her most memorable.
Candace Lipischak
One person’s trash is another person’s treasure. Just ask Candace Lipischak!
Born and raised on Treaty 1 Territory, Lipischak is a French-Métis/Polish multidisciplinary artist who has been creative her whole life. “I was always sketching, I was always fascinated by putting things together,” says Lipischak of her childhood. She has a background in graphic design, but the current iteration of her artistic journey began in 2015 when she started walking her 30-acre property in Otterburne, Manitoba.
“Because it’s a 100-year-old farm property, [the previous owners] just moved all of the debris, or whatever things they didn’t use or implements that were broken, they just pushed it by the Rat River. People think it’s junk, but I thought it was cool stuff, like old saw blades and a lot of jars and glassware and tins and cans and chains,” says Lipischak. “I started putting pieces together. I started seeing a few things that would dictate what the piece was going to be. Like the hump of an old rusted barrel that turned out to be a bison.”
Growing on all six, Upcycled head gasket, acrylics on wood, 7.25"x25", 2015, Candace Lipischak
L: Reclaiming the Prairie, Antique tin and wire, wood stove legs, tin dining plate, 48"x48", 2019, Candace Lipischak
R: Hé-Bear, Acrylics on antique tin, stove pipe, wood, 48"x48", 2015, Candace Lipischak
All of her artwork is painted on or sculpted with these recuperated materials—lending a creative challenge, but also the opportunity to create one-of-a-kind pieces of art. Instead of canvas, she paints on washed tin or old saws—anything circular. The natural patina and rusting of these items offer a unique backdrop, and often inspires what will be depicted. She’s inspired by her heritage, nature, and the nostalgic value of the antiques she finds on her property. “For me, it’s using the object not for what it is, but to transform it into something else.”
In addition to being a painter and sculptor, Lipischak is also an illustrator and antler carver—an art form she learned from her father, inspiring the name of her company Fat Daug (short for “father daughter”). Reflecting on Riopelle, Lipischak appreciates his experimentation, that he practiced a variety of art forms, and didn’t put himself in a box. “What I love so much is that [his work] is not just a brush and canvas. I think he did some really brilliant stuff.”
She encourages anyone at any age to experiment artistically—even if it’s just for themselves. “I think it’s extremely important to get creative. There’s a reason why there’s art therapy.” Her advice? “Don’t hesitate. Don’t be afraid. And if you don’t try, you’ll never know.”
L: Outside Promises, Acrylics on antique saw blade, 13", 2019, Candace Lipischak
“With the treaty coin, with the handshake missing in the middle, it shows that the promises from the treaties were cut.”
C: Antler carving, Candace Lipischak
R: Close Call, Acrylics on antique oil drum lid, 22", 2019, Candace Lipischak
“I think the [coin art] shows the generation that I’m from. Like I still have my old piggy bank here with pennies in it from 1977.”
Danny Perkins
Danny Perkins exhibited at his first art show in 2018, and only two years later he opened his own art gallery.
Now, that might seem like a short timeline between two massive endeavours, but for Centre-du-Québec-based Perkins, when you find something that lights you up, you just have to go for it.
“If you don’t ask, you’re definitely not going to get a yes,” says Perkins. “I do whatever I think is right and feels right. And it just so happens that people appreciate what I do.”
Born and raised in Kingsey Falls, Quebec, Perkins—now an artist, sculptor, and painter—comes from a dairy farming background. Completely self-taught, decorating the cattle beds for his award-winning Jersey cows was where it all began.
“With my farming background, I had no clue who Riopelle was. I had no […] knowledge of art,” says Perkins. “We used to have 125 dairy cows, 500 acres of land. About eight years ago, I started making things for myself.”
Endlessly inspired by his years spent on the farm and living in the country, Perkins’ work is filled with Canadiana motifs with a heavy emphasis on nature—Canadian geese make an appearance in many of his pieces, while maple leaves and bears are a common sight as well. A newer venture for Perkins is creating personalized pieces for his clients in the shape of their own unique fingerprints.
As for his process: “The majority [of pieces] that I do are metal sculptures, and then I use those metal sculptures to do my paintings. My work is free-hand. I find it’s the imperfections in the pieces that gives it its personality.”
Bear, Danny Perkins
Often working 20+ hour days (not unlike his past life as a farmer), Perkins has certainly found his passion. He believes “literally anyone” can be creative and find their own style.
“I never thought I’d be an artist. Never in a thousand years would I have imagined that. […] I think it shows that everything is possible, it doesn’t matter your background or where you’re from. If you put your mind to it, […] you can get to anywhere you want to.”
Now eight years into his art career, Perkins is very familiar with Riopelle and is looking forward to seeing him honoured on a coin. “[Riopelle’s] legacy is quite amazing, to be [as] renowned and respected in the art industry as he was,” says Perkins. “For me, being a Quebecer, seeing a Quebec artist on the coin […] is going to be a major thing. And for the rest of Canada, [it will be incredible] just seeing [his art styles] and just showing that he was proud of his heritage.”
Flying Away and The First Travelers, Danny Perkins
Kalkidan Assefa
“There’s nothing to it but to do it.”
These wise words on tapping into your creative side are from Kalkidan Assefa (a.k.a. DRIPPIN SOUL), an Ottawa-based multidisciplinary artist specializing in figurative and iconographic paintings and murals.
Born in Ethiopia, Assefa believes he was destined to be an artist. His late father was a painter, and Assefa was an art school kid. “I think I was always drawn to art,” says Assefa. “So when I decided to focus on it, it just felt like I was finally doing what I was meant to be doing.”
Mami Wata, Kalkidan Assefa / Drippin Soul
Image credit: James Wilson
Painting since high school, Assefa created his first mural over two decades ago—and his art journey progressed from there. “I started painting small canvases and doing exhibits and more fine art-related work. As time went on, I got involved in a little bit of POC-based activism and doing murals, and then that led to more mural work and other public works.”
These colourful murals (typically crafted from a combination of spray paint, acrylic latex, and wall paint) are inspired by people, nature, and Assefa’s Ethiopian culture. A good soundtrack helps, too. Portraits and animals are often depicted in his art in some way, shape, or form. But murals aren’t all: Assefa also creates digital art, acrylic paintings on canvas, and drawings—a testament to his diversified talent.
Over the course of his career, there are two moments that stand out as most memorable in his mind. “I once painted a mural of Sandra Bland, an African-American woman that died in police custody in 2015,” says Assefa. “[The mural] was defaced. […] People ended up going back to repaint it and to stand vigil. So, for me, that kind of community support really was a highlight of my career.”
Another career highlight is a mural Assefa recently did with artist Jimmy Baptiste for the Ottawa Art Gallery’s 83 ‘til infinity exhibition. “That was really cool because we got to really tap into our hip-hop and graffiti roots at an institution that historically hasn’t really allowed access for that kind of stuff.”
“[Riopelle] was inspired a lot by nature as well. He, for example, did a lot of geese […] I do a lot of ravens in my work.”
Not only as an artist, but as someone who once collected coins, Assefa understands the value of having your work minted:
“A lot of the work that I do, for example, as a muralist, as a street artist, is really ephemeral. It’s there one day and maybe gone the next. […] So, I think different ways to have the work become more permanent and immortalized is really cool. That [Riopelle] coin is going to be passed around by hands that may never have heard of him.”
“I love being able to express myself, but I love also being able to give back in a different way.”
Celebrate boundless creativity with our 2023 commemorative $2 circulation coin—an iconic tribute to an illustrious Canadian artist, Jean Paul Riopelle.