Interview

Aug 15

Carole Robitaille

Caroler

Art has played a major part in Carole’s life. The older she became, the stronger the passion and desire has grown to paint more. I love art and have worked with many mediums. Carole loves to explore the inexhaustible possibilities art has to offer and find the process fulfilling and rewarding. She grew up in Whitby, Ontario. She has taken many courses and workshops over the years and have learned to work in many different mediums including soft and oil pastels, watercolours, gouache, oils, acrylics, pen and ink, Sumi E brush painting, photography, silk dyes, fabric paints. While portraiture, continues to be a focus, she also loves painting more landscapes as well as mystical and abstract paintings.

Carole’s favourite past time is driving through the local countryside to find a lovely or interesting spot to spend the day painting and enjoying the nature around her. The past couple of years, since retiring and having more mobility problems due to Primary Lymphedema in her lower half body, Carole attempts to capture the beauty of living by Frenchman’s Bay and energies around her. She belongs to a few art clubs. She is currently a member of Art Guild of Scarborough and the Oshawa Art Association. They allow her to learn from fellow members and demonstrating guest artists, do volunteer work, and they provide opportunities to show some of her works. Her paintings are in many private collections all across Canada and also in Hong Kong, Scotland and Chili as well as in Borough of East York, Public collection. She has shown pieces at McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa, Whitby Station Gallery and part of a show I AM Here at AGO.

What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

“I'm multi generational Canadian. I started my love of art from cards sold at church showing paintings of religious figures and icons. This inspired a love of capturing people. I started with photographs of people but soon took up doing portraits and live drawing and paintings on a very regular basis. From there, progressing to plein air painting of roadside sceneries and beautiful scenes found. As time went on, I experimented with many different mediums, styles and subjects. I took many art related evening courses and weekend workshops which kept me learning and active at art while I was employed full time, purchasing for a manufacturing company. I joined art clubs to continue learning from demonstrators and sharing costs of portrait and life drawing models. Being retired now from a full time position, allows me to continue developing my art now that I am able to paint daily. Though, I have been more abstract and expressive in my recent works, I still love trying to capture people and also the nature and beauty of Canada.”

What inspires you?

“I'm inspired by watching people I see and wanting to capture their look, character, essence - what makes them special. Music is usually involved. Also by the beauty of nature and scenery I see around me and in my travels. Studies of colours, energies and expressing emotions In a more abstract, expressionist or surrealist styles, I can find a way to capture feelings, impressions and reactions to different events that inspire or spur me to share. Sometimes, a stroke or sketch made and allowing it to grow.”

What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?

“Spiritual, mystical, nature and my feelings about life. I use colours to express emotions and feelings. My recent series are done in an expressive autonomic style with theme in mind. My recent series have been of cell phone use and how it disrupts the social part of life and how I see people paying more attention to messages than dogs being walked or others encountered along the way. I’m also doing a series on small wooden panels of musicians and dancers movements and recording an event or daily impressions.”

How would you describe your work?

“My artwork is a reflection of my life and a life long progression and love of art. Much like a diary of what I saw or felt as time went on. I use different mediums and styles as I feel my subject requires and what life around me provides. I try often to find a way to show the spiritual and shared energies that all people, creatures, and nature share. I believe there is much more to this life than most people see or believe it to be and want to find ways of portraying what I feel.”

Which artists influence you most?

“There’s so many influencing artists like Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Rembrandt, Michaelangelo, Van Gogh, Degas, Clarence Gagnon, Nicholas De Grandemaison, Group of Seven and Frida Khalo.”

“My artwork is a reflection of my life and a life long progression and love of art.”

What is your creative process like?

“I'll approach my art in different ways according to how I feel and what would be best for my subject. I paint on different backgrounds such as stretched canvas, paper and often on black cotton coverstock or black gessoed backgrounds. The black highlights the colours and with layering of colours, I can create depth. Sometimes, driving along the countryside looking for ideal safe location, opening windows and painting from car or near by. I will enjoy the view and animals that come by. When working more abstract or conceptual works, after thoughts and sketches to try and simplify what is to be portrayed, I will start with a streak or small section and allow it to grow and develop based on theme.”

What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?

“I think an artist’s role is to try and capture the world we perceive, share the beauty we share, the good side of life, the concerns and to share a different way to make more people aware of what is around us. There are many, many artists now, all trying to express what they see around them, Many subjects I see seem to portray the dark side of life and their concerns of our future. Hopefully art can help us all be more aware of what is happening in society and how to reunite people to our highest good.”