MOOSE MOUNTAIN PROVINCIAL PARK - Chylisse Marchand’s face lights up when she talks about her paintings and is grateful for the opportunity to display her talent at the Artist Colony of Moose Mountain Provincial Park.
Gravelbourg was home to Marchand as she was growing up, but she now resides in Redvers with her partner Corey George, and their four children Shay, Alli, Peyton and Kara.
Marchand has a teacher’s degree, which was started at Medicine Hat College, and later completed at the University of Lethbridge.
She has her bachelor of arts and bachelor of education, an art degree and a minor in math.
Marchand is the learning support teacher at the Bellegarde school and has also taught in Carlyle.
Teaching is Marchand’s full-time job, and she absolutely loves the kids. She feels teaching is not just about the children learning, but also providing support for her students.
Marchand is also an artist. She always felt she had the talent and began to paint steadily 12 years ago, when her youngest child was six months old.
She paints with her heart, as each piece has a meaning. Marchand feels that art is an excellent way to help with mental health.
Roses and peonies are among her favourite flowers to paint, although she does paint an array of other flowers.
Using oil paint, Marchand can layer and blend her colours easily, as oil takes longer to dry, unlike water-based paint that dries quickly.
Marchand paints with all mediums. She just completed her first grid painting. It is painted like graph paper, with tiny squares creating a picture.
Marchand’s pieces can take up to 60 hours to complete, while others may only take eight hours.
“It all depends on the piece,” said Marchand.
While at the colony, Marchand offered henna tattoos, which turned out to be a big hit with the kids. Along with the tattoos she performed face painting. She had approximately 200 kids take their turns for the tattoos.
Marchand’s daughter Shay also enjoys drawing and painting, and Marchand’s grandmother, Phoebe Kindt from Assiniboia, was also an artist.
“Art is therapy and great for mental health,” said Marchand. It quiets her mind and gives her peace while doing something she loves.
