TITLE : SOCIETY INCLUDES US ALL by artist JOANNE GERVAIS SIZE 66.75 x 32" 200lb Waterford Saunders cold press wc paper watercolour background underpainting nupastels & Richeson semi hard midground Unison, Holbein highlights & darks Unison, Sennelier, Schmincke Richeson soft The story of the triptych "My Society Includes Us All" “Beggar’s Bowl” “Someone’s Child” This work was intended as one piece, but circumstances led to the creation of three pieces which work in harmony & separately to bring awareness to youth despair, emotional crisis, street kids, homelessness, depression, loss, isolation. The works have been used to assist Youth Shelters, Food Programs, In from the Cold, Addition Issues, and Mental Illness Reproductions have been given as gifts to speakers, troubled youth, counselors, donors. Some decorate the walls of hospitals, offices of CEOs, clinics, food trucks, and schools. Mothers have bought the works remembering their troubled child. “My Society Includes Us All” was titled by my husband, a teacher who has seen his share of troubled teens needing compassion, understanding, patience, help. The inspiration for this whole work began when I noticed a street kid huddled in an alley. With her permission I painted her the same day we met. It was initially hung at the local library. When I returned later there was a woman crying on the library steps. I asked if she needed help. No, she said, I just saw a painting which has brought memories of my daughter’s traumatic years. That was my first real experience as to the power of art. A few weeks later I received a call from parents in a desperate search for their daughter. I was heartbroken as I told them that I was certain that the girl in the painting was not their daughter. Eventually it was sold to a wealthy couple. The underprivileged community was upset that the work did not remain in their circle, but it needed to be amongst people who were unaware of the message it represented. This demand led to a second work which needed its own inspiration & fortune came my way the day I met the young woman with the green army jacket begging on the sidewalk. She kindly agreed to be painted and the second piece “Beggar’s Bowl” was created. The background had a cave like look to it, and it was perfect for tucking in such a vulnerable young person. The veiled, delicate figure in the My Society piece was obscured by some of the background much as her despair obscured life around her. The young person in Beggar’s bowl is more prominent, and the bowl shows an effort to live. This piece shows how important a title can be. Most viewers look at the painting and form a quick judgement. When they read the title, they all look at the painting again to see this bowl. Their final reaction generally has changed, influenced by the title. One day upon arrival to my gallery where this work was hanging, staff came running and insisted I immediately read what one of the street kids wrote in my guest book. Summary of this quote “…..I wish to thank you for creating these works of us forgotten kids, who are stepped on, spit on, sworn at.. it is important that people realize we are “Someone’s Child”. My works were not just appreciated, but seemed to be needed. This was an incredible message and an incredible title and inspired the final piece. It was the first time that I created a work to fit a title. The first two images were being used by multiple organizations, and a third was needed quickly. A search for a model began again. A young woman was a model for my Portrait & Figure Artists Group. She posed one day with her street clothes, and she had the right gesture, look and understanding of what was needed for the final. She posed long enough for me to create “Someone’s Child” which has the least look of a street kid, but the closest to any parent’s troubled teenager look. She truly depicted the anguish expressed in the message written, Someone’s Child. My sister felt threatened by the street kids and would avoid the downtown area where they typically hung out. She only saw toughness, chains hanging from ripped jeans, gaunt looking faces with staring, demanding eyes. She did not see the humanity or the fear or the vulnerability. The society works changed her, and many others, impressions of these kids. It was an amazing transformation to see. Art can be so much more than pretty paintings, art can move people. These works suited pastel perfectly with its spontaneity, ease of broken colour, velvet texture contrasting with the flatness of the background watercolour. The vibrancy was made possible with the soft Senneliers , schmincke, & Richesons intensified by the depth of colour from the Unison dark set. It is not just artistically well done but art that works towards educating people, increasing awareness, bridging opposing worlds, and most importantly creating empathy. Unfortunately, the series of originals were separated and sold individually. Reproductions are still doing their work in society. Joanne Gervais, professional visual artist. Studio works at www.joannegervais.com live event sketching on FB & Instagram

Name:Valerie Junek Sedore

Bio:I am a self taught artist who has earned my N.O.A.A. letters thanks to the encouragement from my club members to explore and expand my art

Story:My husband and myself were visiting the ruins of Capistrano in California and I thought the ruins were very beautiful. After many photos I used Winsor & Newton watercolours on yupo then drew the ruins with a Micron pen on top of the watercolour.

Name:Brian Sloan

Bio:I am a self-taught artist from Alberta. I work mainly with acrylic paint on canvas and wood. I have been painting for five years now and my love for painting has only continued to grow. I was first intrigued by the beauty of Canadian landscapes and wildlife. These two subjects continue to be my favourite things to paint.

Story:This painting is of Cameron Falls in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. This is a mixed media style combining pyrography and acrylic paint. I burn the lines in with a wood-burning tool, paint the spaces, use a blow-torch on the edges, and seal it with a gloss varnish. I wanted to be able to portray the beauty of these falls in a unique way which I had never seen before. While visiting Waterton this summer, I sat by the falls in continued awe at the flowing water and at the many different colours of rock through which the water was flowing. It was amazing to see purples, oranges, browns and grays all in the same little area. I wanted to be able to show the vast array of colours in such a way that they were noticed even though the falls are the focal point. I believe I achieved my goal.

Name:Luc Guillemette

Bio:I'm a self taught artist from the North bay Ontario area. Growing up in the country and being of Algonquin decent I've always had a passion for wildlife. I rediscovered my love for arts a few years ago when I started painting in acrylics and soon after in oils.

Story:This lion painting is a 16x20 on canvas using H. Graham oils and medium. Working with oils lets me achieve realism as I slowly use glazes. My inspiration came from visiting a zoo when I was on an 8th grade school trip many years ago. I've always been fascinated with wildlife. The reference photo I used was courtesy of Pixaap.

Name:Drego Cavalida

Bio:im a self taught artist from the Philippines

Story:My inspiration for this painting is our Yearly Festival which honors the Miraculous Image of a child Santo Ninyo which is celebrated every 3rd Sunday of January

Name:Connie Lasko

Bio:I’ve recently rediscovered my love of drawing. I loved to draw as a teenager. Now, 35 years later, I watched a YouTube video of wildlife artist Jason Morgan, tried pastels like he uses, and my love of drawing is back! I think I’d be the happiest if I could spend every day of my life either with my grandchildren or in front of my easel!

Story:This piece is done with pan pastels and pastel pencils on Pastelmat paper. I love drawing wildlife, especially outside of their natural habitats. This bear is coming from the darkness rather than in a forest. My friend named this piece for me...”Gentle Warrior”. I love it because a bear can be as gentle as a big teddy bear, but can fight like a warrior if it needs to. I love how the eyes are what you notice first as the bear emerges from the darkness. The reference photo for this is one that I purchased from Wildlife Reference Photos online.

Name:joanne gervais

Bio:Joanne Gervais’ artwork is a delicate and striking balance of composition and depiction, all having an organic essence flowing through. This is the result of decades of training in life drawing and painting. Her deft use of colour and texture solidified by her training in the classical arts and now influenced by the hard edges of contemporary painting, combine to create a recognizable style. Joanne depicts subjects as diverse as portraits, abstracts, sports and landscapes, using all media but favouring oils, pastels, and mixed media. When Joanne is asked about her fine art career, she describes an unusual journey from initial training in the Fine Crafts which included the study of textiles, pottery, jewellery, woodworking, silkscreen printing, fashion tailoring & design which included theory of colour, drawing and painting. Later she studied oil painting, cartooning, advertising, portraiture and artist pastel. It has taken years of dedication to become an established artist, and Joanne expects that the latter half of her career will bring forth works of greater skill, increased sensitivity, and a greater understanding of the process of creativity and what it means to create “painterly works”. Joanne wants her artwork to benefit the world around her in a positive, albeit small, way. That is the greatest motivation that she needs to continue the long lonely days that a professional artist experiences in the quest of creating the masterpieces that one hopes will leave some sort of mark or influence in the world that one lives in.

Story:TITLE : SOCIETY INCLUDES US ALL by artist JOANNE GERVAIS SIZE 66.75 x 32" 200lb Waterford Saunders cold press wc paper watercolour background underpainting nupastels & Richeson semi hard midground Unison, Holbein highlights & darks Unison, Sennelier, Schmincke Richeson soft The story of the triptych "My Society Includes Us All" “Beggar’s Bowl” “Someone’s Child” This work was intended as one piece, but circumstances led to the creation of three pieces which work in harmony & separately to bring awareness to youth despair, emotional crisis, street kids, homelessness, depression, loss, isolation. The works have been used to assist Youth Shelters, Food Programs, In from the Cold, Addition Issues, and Mental Illness Reproductions have been given as gifts to speakers, troubled youth, counselors, donors. Some decorate the walls of hospitals, offices of CEOs, clinics, food trucks, and schools. Mothers have bought the works remembering their troubled child. “My Society Includes Us All” was titled by my husband, a teacher who has seen his share of troubled teens needing compassion, understanding, patience, help. The inspiration for this whole work began when I noticed a street kid huddled in an alley. With her permission I painted her the same day we met. It was initially hung at the local library. When I returned later there was a woman crying on the library steps. I asked if she needed help. No, she said, I just saw a painting which has brought memories of my daughter’s traumatic years. That was my first real experience as to the power of art. A few weeks later I received a call from parents in a desperate search for their daughter. I was heartbroken as I told them that I was certain that the girl in the painting was not their daughter. Eventually it was sold to a wealthy couple. The underprivileged community was upset that the work did not remain in their circle, but it needed to be amongst people who were unaware of the message it represented. This demand led to a second work which needed its own inspiration & fortune came my way the day I met the young woman with the green army jacket begging on the sidewalk. She kindly agreed to be painted and the second piece “Beggar’s Bowl” was created. The background had a cave like look to it, and it was perfect for tucking in such a vulnerable young person. The veiled, delicate figure in the My Society piece was obscured by some of the background much as her despair obscured life around her. The young person in Beggar’s bowl is more prominent, and the bowl shows an effort to live. This piece shows how important a title can be. Most viewers look at the painting and form a quick judgement. When they read the title, they all look at the painting again to see this bowl. Their final reaction generally has changed, influenced by the title. One day upon arrival to my gallery where this work was hanging, staff came running and insisted I immediately read what one of the street kids wrote in my guest book. Summary of this quote “…..I wish to thank you for creating these works of us forgotten kids, who are stepped on, spit on, sworn at.. it is important that people realize we are “Someone’s Child”. My works were not just appreciated, but seemed to be needed. This was an incredible message and an incredible title and inspired the final piece. It was the first time that I created a work to fit a title. The first two images were being used by multiple organizations, and a third was needed quickly. A search for a model began again. A young woman was a model for my Portrait & Figure Artists Group. She posed one day with her street clothes, and she had the right gesture, look and understanding of what was needed for the final. She posed long enough for me to create “Someone’s Child” which has the least look of a street kid, but the closest to any parent’s troubled teenager look. She truly depicted the anguish expressed in the message written, Someone’s Child. My sister felt threatened by the street kids and would avoid the downtown area where they typically hung out. She only saw toughness, chains hanging from ripped jeans, gaunt looking faces with staring, demanding eyes. She did not see the humanity or the fear or the vulnerability. The society works changed her, and many others, impressions of these kids. It was an amazing transformation to see. Art can be so much more than pretty paintings, art can move people. These works suited pastel perfectly with its spontaneity, ease of broken colour, velvet texture contrasting with the flatness of the background watercolour. The vibrancy was made possible with the soft Senneliers , schmincke, & Richesons intensified by the depth of colour from the Unison dark set. It is not just artistically well done but art that works towards educating people, increasing awareness, bridging opposing worlds, and most importantly creating empathy. Unfortunately, the series of originals were separated and sold individually. Reproductions are still doing their work in society. Joanne Gervais, professional visual artist. Studio works at www.joannegervais.com live event sketching on FB & Instagram

Name:Tracey Mowatt

Bio:I am a self taught artist born and raised in North Bay. My husband and I recently moved to the Corbeil area and are enjoying the country living along with our 13 year old chocolate lab Zoey. love the outdoors and unparticular kayaking.

Story:This painting is done in acrylics and is a photo that my mom and dad took while visiting the east coast with my grandparents. My mom asked me if I could paint it for her and she was overwhelmed with how well it turned out and she currently has it hanging in her home. My grandparents have been passed away now for several years and this painting is a wonderful reminder of them.