Esmie Gayo McLaren
Visual artist; Advisor at Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society ; Co-Chair Pagtitipon Art Exhibition 2015; Past Vice President of Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society; Past Chair of Generation One Art Exhibition.
Education: Certificate in Fine Art Techniques from Emily Carr University; Univ. of Alberta Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology and Psychology; workshops at Academy of Art (Vancouver), Federation of Canadian Artists, Mandy Boursicot Atelier, and Gerry Thompson Studio.
Endeavours: Paint for juried group exhibitions as well as solo shows; paint commissions; teach art to community; use my art experience in community work, especially as liaison for artists and the community; share bodies of work internationally.
Affiliations: Federation of Canadian Artists (Canada), active member; Society of Philippine American Artists (NY); International Watercolour Society
Artist Statement 2017
I share stories that provide healing and hope, rekindling joy and inspiration. I tell of passion, labour, simplicity, and childish abandon. I romanticize, re-live adventures, and embrace subjects that touch my heart. Emphasizing motion and emotion, I narrate about lightness of spirit in the whirls of skirts and spontaneous play.
I work in both oils and watercolours. With the latter, I use either paper or canvas support. I enjoy texturizing the canvas with gesso which adds an element of play and an extra dimension of movement.
