Interview
Renee Pupetz
Renee Pupetz grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. She lived in Toronto, Chicago, Victoria BC and then Vancouver in 1996. She became a Student Support Worker for the Vancouver School Board and also worked as a therapist, working with autistic children and their families and facilitating a home program for them. She has two children and started painting seriously last year and she is now a full-time artist.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I grew up in Nova Scotia during the 80' and 90's. There was a thriving art scene driven mainly by the art college, located right in the heart of the city. I lived with a group of artists and was in a relationship with one during that time. We were together all the time so I was learning and observing while he worked on projects. We spent some time in the dark room, using old cameras and I modelled often for him as well. I used to sketch with charcoal and conte but nothing really serious. I enjoyed photographing abandoned buildings and old churches and I was also writing/creating music with a friend that was well known in the local music scene.
So, I was always doing something creative. But I never really committed to anything, I was busy finding myself and just exploring. I also had some family members that painted and created artwork. So, I do think that made an impression on me as well. I moved to Vancouver BC but wasn’t really creating art until 2007, when I tried acrylic paint for the first time. I honestly couldn't stop painting once I started. I’ve never experienced that feeling I had when I was painting. It was pure engagement, motivation, curiosity - I felt like I did when I was a child playing, completely absorbed in what I was doing. It felt good. I had to give up painting to raise my two children. Two years ago my father died and I also developed a 24/7 intractable vestibular migraine just before he passed. I spent the next year grieving, holed up in my bedroom unable to do anything really, but stare at the wall because the migraine was triggered by any movement like watching tv, movies, going on walks, car rides, reading books or going to busy shops. I was feeling very bored and hopeless and tired of just staring at the wall. I decided to try painting again. This time with watercolour. All those feelings came back and it didn't make my migraine much worse, so I then continued to paint daily this past year, ever since!”
What inspires you?
“Nature inspires me. I am excited to wake up everyday and see what is going on outside, the weather, what colour the leaves have changed to, the clouds. I feel strongly that nature is struggling but it is still hanging in there. I like to paint not only its beauty; sunsets, hills and valleys, and flowers and vegetation, but the details we overlook. Like the tiny salmonberry blossom blooming at the end of winter found amongst twigs and debris, the subtle movement of the trees in the wind. I love water. The way it moves and sparkle. I like to find the balance between stillness and motion, especially when painting water, which I realize now is also related to my own vestibular condition. I am also inspired by my two artistic children. I've learned a lot from watching them become artists from the very early stages. I am excited to continue to follow them on their own journeys!”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“Many of my works deal with the theme of what is happening to our Earth. To show its wounds amongst it's beauty. Paintings such as 'when the day breaks' and 'pink cloud' illustrates this idea. Although, they are viewed at first as 'pretty' or 'beautiful' there is another element to them. A warning. It's as if it has become a normal part of our existence and we overlook it. My intention is to bring to focus to how we normalize or don't/can't/won't see, the conditions that surround us. We somehow turn our gaze away from the obvious environmental signs of danger, toward the 'familiar' and safety of its beauty. In some ways, this is very natural and healthy but we must find the proper balance and I think that is what the world is trying to do but is having difficulty doing so, mainly due to sociopolitical factors. My work also deals with themes of loneliness and solitude. I like to show how they both can be similar but perceived differently. To me, being neurodivergent, it can be confusing as it can be isolating and emotionally volatile, but it can also be a welcome refuge from the challenges we face in our lives and in the world. I like to try and find the balance between these two ideas.”
How would you describe your work?
“Many people comment that my work is 'calming' and 'peaceful.' I would also add that is playful, and has a 'child like' innocence or quality to it. Sometimes, my art is serious or I am dealing with a crisis and am working through it on the canvas or paper. At times, I just want to communicate something that I can't quite put into words. Other times, I just want to play, so the colours are more bold and there is less care to detail. I really enjoy painting loosely. I find it very liberating and more in line with who I am. I do often lay out a drawn out template especially with more intricate details like buildings etc. I would also describe my artwork as 'genuine.' I am truly myself when I paint and I believe this come across in the finished piece.”
Which artists influence you most?
“Frida Kahlo's work helped me through the challenges I went through the last couple of years. I could really relate to the loneliness and pain she experienced after her accident. Her work is so bold and honest. I have always held her work at high esteem. I am inspired and influenced by the Canadian 'Group of Seven’ artists. Their landscape paintings of this beautiful country have encouraged me to notice and explore the world around me. I also enjoy Van Gogh, the impressionist movement, and many artists that are less well known. They inspire me everyday.”
“I feel strongly that nature is struggling but it is still hanging in there. I like to paint not only its beauty; sunsets, hills and valleys, and flowers and vegetation, but the details we overlook! ”
What is your creative process like?
“Usually, the creative process is very spontaneous and fluid. Sometimes, I will be looking at photographs I took down at the creek a month ago and get an image in my head that is usually just a detail from the photograph. I then set myself up and paint. Other times, I just get an idea or image in my mind that comes up. If I am feeling blocked, I will just start taping up my paper or getting paints and canvas prepared and just start anywhere. Usually, this works well for me. I don't think I’ve ever had a time where I didn't make it work once I started the process. This is interesting to me. I find I can solve problems well when I'm painting. It makes me look at my life and wonder if this is true in other places as well! Watercolour is especially enjoyable for me. I love the way the brush moves along the water and I let it go where it wants to or sometimes, I will control it by moving it around the paper but I am usually never quite certain how it will end up. I like this part. The surprise. To me this is more authentic and genuine. It's like a force within me that takes charge. The genuine part of me.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“I believe the artist’s role in society acts as a sort of conduit of the culture and society that surround them. Art can show or reflect what's happening within the artist themselves, the worlds' sociopolitical climate, environmental landscape, culture and all of its ailments, failures and successes. It is the snapshot of 'now' and is shaping what the past will look like to our future audience. So, the art from the artist is a very important and vital artifact for the future and helps to shape the future by it's impact on the observer.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I was recently selected for Monic Reyes, 'Mind of an Artist,' an online exhibition that displayed some of my artwork. The online showcase is ongoing for one month, from Nov 7- Dec 7, 2024. I had a spotlight interview with Art Beacon Gallery on their blog. I was also selected , along with a small group of other talented artists, in the exhibition ‘Art Is you’ hosted by The Art Beacon Gallery in Seoul. I was also selected to be featured/interviewed in Visual Art Journal Magazine, an international art magazine from the Netherlands. Lastly, I have been selected by the Holy Art Gallery for exhibitions in London, Athens, Paris, and New York in November and December. The show in New York will be a VR show and after the physical exhibition, my artwork will be online for 3 months on their website for the online VR exhibit. I am excited to be part of this new cutting edge technology in the art world.”
