Art for people

Art for people.

That sentence really resonates with me.  It captures what I do and why I do it.  I get up every morning and create colourful paintings that also become art cards, canvas prints and most recently, puzzles.  All of these find their way to homes and businesses across Canada and the U.S.

I have also had the great privilege of witnessing so many reactions to my work.  From the way that young people stare up at the Birdsong Studio feature wall to grown adults being surprised with a memorial portrait or something deeply personal, I have been humbled to observe these special moments.  They fuel my desire and need to get out to the studio every day and create anew.

Art for people.

I can't tell you how many families have multiple pieces on their walls.  They playfully joke that they have to move things around to make them all fit. I'm still blown away that people have embraced this creative change of course in my life and have inexplicably become connected to the work.  The art is one thing, but the connection to people is everything.

Art for people.

As requests started pouring in for puzzles, I started thinking about how much this new product stream aligns with my purpose and passion.  I love creating art for people.  Puzzles give families and friends the opportunity to spend quality doing an activity together and appreciating some art at the same time.

Art for people.

I was doing a workshop with Indigenous students at a local high school yesterday when a poised young lady came up to me.

"I wanted to thank you for painting my dad," she said with a bright smile on her face.

"You are very welcome," I said.  "What's your dad's name?"

"Lee," she replied.

"What's his last name?" I asked, trying to narrow down what painting it might be.

"Hudson," she said.

It clicked immediately.  Lee was a former employee of the Centre of Hope who died way too young.  I had painted his portrait at the KD Gala in 2017.

This young lady obviously heard that I was at the school and had the courage to come into the classroom and share what that painting meant to her.  I was deeply touched.   She reminded me of why I do this and why it matters.

Art truly is for people.