MOOSE MOUNTAIN PROVINCIAL PARK - Chylisse Marchand has returned to the Artist Colony at Moose Mountain Provincial Park.
Marchand is from Redvers and is a bilingual teacher. She has experience in art from kindergarten to Grade 12 and being a learning support teacher. She is also the response to intervention for K-12.
Last year Marchand went to Halifax through EF tours as a group leader of educational tours, although Quebec was her destination of choice.
Some of her art pieces were inspired by her trip, including a painting of Peggy’s Cove which will be on display at the cabin.
Each year she requires a photo of herself in a wheat field. It was at this time that her now-finance Corey George proposed to her. They will be married on Oct. 7 in Regina.
Together they have four children, Shalyn who is 17, Peyton, 15, and Alli and Kara, who are 14 years old. Both of Marchand’s daughters wish to be teachers like their mother, but they also have artistic talent like her.
Corey is described as her rock and he keeps her grounded, but also challenges her to try new things and take risks.
She loves to dabble in a little bit of everything, but her first love was oil painting, and she enjoys painting big with some of her pieces measuring over four feet.
Marchand is now doing abstract. Her pieces tend to be acrylic ink with acrylic paint overtop.
“I will start by getting a base coat on my canvas, then watering down the inks,” said Marchand. “I will add with a brush and manipulate paint to achieve the desired look.”
Overtop she usually adds some type of line art, stemming from flowers or greenery.
“It is time consuming but always worth it in the end,” she said.
In January, she lost her beloved cat Max and in order to heal she painted a portrait of him, but also tattooed him on her leg. She said it helped her a great deal.
This was her first pet portrait, and she hopes it will be her last.
She continues to paint scenery and landscapes and also flowers, which she loves.
Marchand's time at the cabin started July 18 and continues until the 24th. She is looking forward to her time there, catching up with old friends and making new ones.
