Esmie Gayo McLaren

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.