creative highlight
from our community
AISLINN NADEAU
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Aislinn is the Artist behind Paint the North
She is a Canadian-born artist and Entrepreneur. Her strengths lie in mixed media, graphite, acrylic, and watercolor. Her pieces capture the heart of the Christian identity - beauty, strength, and a passion for meaningful community.
Aislinn embodies this, not only in her artistic expressions, but in the way she interacts with the community and how she runs her business. She is able to recognize that in the middle of a rugged and harsh life, true beauty and strength emerges. This is the essence of her Canadian heritage and personal story.
She has united fellow artists and artisans for success each learning from weaknesses and sharing strengths.
Aislinn lives with her husband Josh in Kelowna, British Columbia.
Instagram: @paintthenorth
Website: www.paintthenorth.com
Email: [email protected]
She is a Canadian-born artist and Entrepreneur. Her strengths lie in mixed media, graphite, acrylic, and watercolor. Her pieces capture the heart of the Christian identity - beauty, strength, and a passion for meaningful community.
Aislinn embodies this, not only in her artistic expressions, but in the way she interacts with the community and how she runs her business. She is able to recognize that in the middle of a rugged and harsh life, true beauty and strength emerges. This is the essence of her Canadian heritage and personal story.
She has united fellow artists and artisans for success each learning from weaknesses and sharing strengths.
Aislinn lives with her husband Josh in Kelowna, British Columbia.
Instagram: @paintthenorth
Website: www.paintthenorth.com
Email: [email protected]
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Can you tell us about your introduction to art? How did you know you had a creative gift?
Art is something I was introduced to as a child, I was the type of little girl fascinated with pens and coloring pencils and always covered in various inks and paints.
If I’m being honest I didn’t really have a revelation about my creativity as a “gift” per se, it was just something that was an extension to myself, a part of me, I suppose people being like “whoa.” Made me rethink what it meant to me.
Did you ever think you’d be selling your art, or teaching art?
I have a degree in science and a degree in business so I would say that’s a definite no. ha-ha
What are some of the biggest challenges you have in explaining what you do to others who don’t find themselves in a creative background or field? Life family/friends/strangers?
I think a lot of people view art as a hobby, not that it could be a grand calling to be an artist and to create something new, something counter-cultural, something that communicates a vision not like this world. When I was first branching into art, I was my harshest critic. I told myself often I couldn’t do art as a job. I still struggle to see the next steps because art is such a deeply personal, constantly changing, thing. Art doesn’t necessarily have to be your full-time job, but if you’re creative you should always leave room for yourself to be the conduit of this form of worship.
Art is something I was introduced to as a child, I was the type of little girl fascinated with pens and coloring pencils and always covered in various inks and paints.
If I’m being honest I didn’t really have a revelation about my creativity as a “gift” per se, it was just something that was an extension to myself, a part of me, I suppose people being like “whoa.” Made me rethink what it meant to me.
Did you ever think you’d be selling your art, or teaching art?
I have a degree in science and a degree in business so I would say that’s a definite no. ha-ha
What are some of the biggest challenges you have in explaining what you do to others who don’t find themselves in a creative background or field? Life family/friends/strangers?
I think a lot of people view art as a hobby, not that it could be a grand calling to be an artist and to create something new, something counter-cultural, something that communicates a vision not like this world. When I was first branching into art, I was my harshest critic. I told myself often I couldn’t do art as a job. I still struggle to see the next steps because art is such a deeply personal, constantly changing, thing. Art doesn’t necessarily have to be your full-time job, but if you’re creative you should always leave room for yourself to be the conduit of this form of worship.
How do you encounter the Lord in your creativity?
Sometimes I ask Him what He’s up to. What does He want me to communicate? What type of beauty would be fun to express to the world? What is He speaking about right now? God is the MOST creative. Why wouldn’t he want us to be part of that? Art is a way I listen and try to communicate His thoughts to this world.
How do you juggle your business/family/social time?
With difficulty lol. I have a personality that makes me hone in on something and not let go. My husband is now a full-time artist as well so we do spend a lot of time painting and drawing together while listening to lectures. I’m a huge philosophy and history geek lol. But he often will pull me away if I get super frustrated with how a painting is going. I feel I’ve learned some valuable principles lately about seeing art as sometimes a job where it’s okay to take a break from. Before I would say, “Well it’s all fun, so I should always do it,” which is not balancing my life correctly. I like to take time to hike and climb, spend time with family and friends, and see art as the supplement to it all that helps me express all the joys or sorrows in my life.
Any encouraging words, words of wisdom from what you've learned to help other creatives on their journey to being abundant and thriving artists/creatives/makers?
Don’t give up, I know we live in an “instant gratification” society, where if we don’t see the success immediately we want to quit. Sometimes something fails and that’s okay, but just keep going, all the little failures (or big ones) are educations we need to become better. I stopped painting for a while and really regret it. I wanted to give up and gave into that emotion. I could have been creating traction and working through the slump which is a lesson we all need to learn. KEEP CREATING :)
Sometimes I ask Him what He’s up to. What does He want me to communicate? What type of beauty would be fun to express to the world? What is He speaking about right now? God is the MOST creative. Why wouldn’t he want us to be part of that? Art is a way I listen and try to communicate His thoughts to this world.
How do you juggle your business/family/social time?
With difficulty lol. I have a personality that makes me hone in on something and not let go. My husband is now a full-time artist as well so we do spend a lot of time painting and drawing together while listening to lectures. I’m a huge philosophy and history geek lol. But he often will pull me away if I get super frustrated with how a painting is going. I feel I’ve learned some valuable principles lately about seeing art as sometimes a job where it’s okay to take a break from. Before I would say, “Well it’s all fun, so I should always do it,” which is not balancing my life correctly. I like to take time to hike and climb, spend time with family and friends, and see art as the supplement to it all that helps me express all the joys or sorrows in my life.
Any encouraging words, words of wisdom from what you've learned to help other creatives on their journey to being abundant and thriving artists/creatives/makers?
Don’t give up, I know we live in an “instant gratification” society, where if we don’t see the success immediately we want to quit. Sometimes something fails and that’s okay, but just keep going, all the little failures (or big ones) are educations we need to become better. I stopped painting for a while and really regret it. I wanted to give up and gave into that emotion. I could have been creating traction and working through the slump which is a lesson we all need to learn. KEEP CREATING :)