Meet the Artists
Monica L
"It's a place to come see what we're capable of. We're not down here doing drugs. We're down here to bring people together to create."
- Monica L |
Monica had never tried art before starting at the New School of Colour, about 3.5 years ago. At the time Monica was living with an addiction and found that doing art at the New School of Colour was a good outlet. It kept her busy and she didn't want to use.
Monica's artistic style is called "drop gravity." Monica picks the colours that she wants to see together, drops the paint on the canvas, and lets gravity take over. Monica says that the New School of Colour is an innovative place for people to come and see if there's anything hiding within themselves. Photo Credit: Sean Meyer (London Community News) http://www.londoncommunitynews.com/community-story/5668907-the-needle-did-damage-but-art-was-her-way-home/ |
Brian S
"Bringing people together that enjoy the same things. New School of Colour has created a sense of community." - Brian S.
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Brian S. is a New School of Colour regular, with multiple tasks on the go. Brian describes his work as modernist, and counts Dali, Moreau, Bosch, and Briton among his greatest influences.
Brian used to enjoy hanging out with friends during the late 70's/ early 80's in cafes and bars where you could enjoy art of all kinds. Brian feel like the New School of Colour has rekindled that dynamic. Something that Brian appreciates about the New School of Colour is that regardless of experience or knowledge, you are welcomed in and made to feel as though what you create is significant and important. You really gain a sense of worth and dignity from the people hosting the evenings activities. "The New School of Colour is passionate about the individual as well as the group. Developing ones own worth and confidence is crucial. Being able to provide a warm and inviting environment further encourages motive and muse." - Brian S. |
Marshall Custus
Hi, I'm Marshall Custus.
I've always enjoyed being creative, and have found a number of ways to express this interest over the years.
I became a participant in the New School Of Colour during it's first year at the Ark Aid Street Mission. Jeremy Jeresky is so openminded!
We all sat around the tarp covered pool table, radio on, everybody doing different visual art projects with small talk, and art talk. That was about seven years ago. We still do all that, now on proper tables, in a studio built for the group. And now, I am the one who gets to open the door and flick on the lights to that creative room, as Jeremy persues his Doctorate in Art at Western.
Drawing helps me compose my thoughts, get them in line, and balance my perspective of them. Sometimes I even feel productive, which also has value. For me, art is an internal journey. I don't seem to have a destination in mind, the journey is enough fun. I have no dicipline, no firm goals, and sometimes chuckle out loud to myself when I manage a passable passage in one try.
I draw with graphite pencils, blend by various techniques, remove using a kneadable eraser. I like a number of types of papers, and charcoal on canvas is also something I return to occasionaly. I am more able to sketch from memory than imagination, but happiest looking at the source of the drawing with my eyes.
Drawing is also inexpensive, and a very, very deep subject to learn about.
I enjoy studying the Classical Masters of drawing; da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt and, most recently, I bought a couple of books about Albrecht Durer. More current influences include Andrew Loomis, Gary Faigin, Norman Rockwell, and Jon deMartin. There are many more.
Creativity RULES!
I've always enjoyed being creative, and have found a number of ways to express this interest over the years.
I became a participant in the New School Of Colour during it's first year at the Ark Aid Street Mission. Jeremy Jeresky is so openminded!
We all sat around the tarp covered pool table, radio on, everybody doing different visual art projects with small talk, and art talk. That was about seven years ago. We still do all that, now on proper tables, in a studio built for the group. And now, I am the one who gets to open the door and flick on the lights to that creative room, as Jeremy persues his Doctorate in Art at Western.
Drawing helps me compose my thoughts, get them in line, and balance my perspective of them. Sometimes I even feel productive, which also has value. For me, art is an internal journey. I don't seem to have a destination in mind, the journey is enough fun. I have no dicipline, no firm goals, and sometimes chuckle out loud to myself when I manage a passable passage in one try.
I draw with graphite pencils, blend by various techniques, remove using a kneadable eraser. I like a number of types of papers, and charcoal on canvas is also something I return to occasionaly. I am more able to sketch from memory than imagination, but happiest looking at the source of the drawing with my eyes.
Drawing is also inexpensive, and a very, very deep subject to learn about.
I enjoy studying the Classical Masters of drawing; da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt and, most recently, I bought a couple of books about Albrecht Durer. More current influences include Andrew Loomis, Gary Faigin, Norman Rockwell, and Jon deMartin. There are many more.
Creativity RULES!
Maggie T
"I love to write and paint. It is the best form of expression. Many people can relate. I plan to succeed. Just because you found yourself homeless, or whatever, does not mean that we have nothing to offer."- Maggie T.
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Maggie T's story begins when she was 48 years old, and it had originally started with poetry. When she was living in Montreal, she entered a contest for a French magazine, and won. Her poem was the first English poem to be published within the magazine regarding abuse against women. A topic she's very familiar with.
After moving back to Ontario, she says that her life has had it's ups and downs. By the time she was 50 years old, she found herself to be homeless. So she stayed at the Salvation Army - Centre of Hope. In Aug 2009, she was introduced to a writing group; Grit Uplifted Creative Writing. She's had the pleasure of becoming a member and writing poetry which is published on the Grit Uplifted website. Through Grity Uplifted she's had the honour of participating in community events, including being a speaker at the Healing Palette in St. Thomas. where she read to the audience and received positive feedback. Since she wanted to be more involved, she approached Jeremy Jeresky. |
Don K
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Pam E
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Louis (Lou) La Butte
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Pauline S (Pooks)
To see more of her work, check out her website:
http://www.pooks82.weebly.com |
Before stumbling across the New School of Colour in the Spring of 2011, Pauline S was going through a dark phase in her life. After getting out of a domestic abusive relationship, and losing custody of her children, she was suicidal. Prior to coming across the art program she had neglected her talent over the years of isolation. She strongly believes that the New School of Colour saved her life, and that it rekindled her passion for art. "I believe I was meant to rediscover my passion."
At the New School of Colour she has used art as a form of therapy, and as a tool that gives her a voice. She finds that she is able to express things that she wouldn't be able to verbally. It has helped her turn negative emotions into a positive. "I like that no one is judged, and everyone is accepted. I like the diversity within the group. The members that attend range from elders, children, university students, people with either physical or mental issues, people struggling with poverty and housing, addictions, etc. None of that matters at the New School of Colour. Even though each individual is so different, we all enjoy to do the same thing, and that is to create." Pauline S signed her first completed art piece at the NSoC back in 2011 with the alias name "Pooks", and has been going by that name when it comes to all her art and writing ever since. Her alias has taken her on a whole new journey of it's own, as Pooks; the Artist and the Writer. |
Mel S
Since the beginning of The New School of Colour, there has only been one artist named Mel. She says that the space is great, and that working with Jeremy is a major reason she keeps coming back. As she says: “He’s awesome and you never know what he’s going to do next”.
Mel loves the New School of Colour as a way to be able to escape what’s going on outside. It’s important to her to have this space to escape, paint, draw and be entertained. Mel thinks of it as a nice vacation. This is a nice part of her routine on her only day off from work.
Mel is learning that she actually has artistic talent, although she had never believed that she was good at art before coming to NSoC. Mel has sold a few of her pieces so far, which has been re-affirming.
For people who are just hearing of the New School of Colour, Mel would say that they are a family who puts the “fun” in dysfunctional. Everybody is very welcoming and non-judgmental. “As you respect me, I respect you.”
Mel is also a proud member of the #RainbowNinjaCoalition.
Mel's blog can be found here: http://melishee24.wordpress.com
Mel loves the New School of Colour as a way to be able to escape what’s going on outside. It’s important to her to have this space to escape, paint, draw and be entertained. Mel thinks of it as a nice vacation. This is a nice part of her routine on her only day off from work.
Mel is learning that she actually has artistic talent, although she had never believed that she was good at art before coming to NSoC. Mel has sold a few of her pieces so far, which has been re-affirming.
For people who are just hearing of the New School of Colour, Mel would say that they are a family who puts the “fun” in dysfunctional. Everybody is very welcoming and non-judgmental. “As you respect me, I respect you.”
Mel is also a proud member of the #RainbowNinjaCoalition.
Mel's blog can be found here: http://melishee24.wordpress.com
Sarah C
To see more of her work, check out her Thorn N' Thistle Decorative Arts Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/ThornnThistle-Decorative-Arts/315363245143318 |
Sarah came to the Ark for dinner one night and heard about The New School of Colour. Two years have gone by since then, and Sarah is still a regular. Although Sarah had tried painting before coming to NSoC, art has become a whole new experience for her since participating in the program. Sarah says: “Since I’ve been coming here I’ve produced things I never thought I was capable of. It’s brought a whole new side of me that I didn’t think was there”.
Sarah likes to dabble in different mediums. She’s mostly worked on landscapes, but lately has been practicing with people and faces. One direction that Sarah’s art has taken her is into hand-stitched pillows, with hand-embroidered pictures. She brought them to the vendors market at EVAC last year and nearly sold out. Sarah credits NSoC with giving her the confidence to put on her own art show. It was held at EVAC on Remembrance Day of 2011. She dedicated the show to her grandfather. The experience was a great confidence booster. Sarah has also gained experience by running the Friday night crafts program in the Ark Aid Studio for about 2 years. |