Love Local: Northwestern Alberta Makers & Creators Art by Annette Canada | Fairview, AB
Annette Duguay-Bruce, 64, currently lives in Fairview but was born and raised in Winnipeg.
What’s your origin story? How did you get into making art?
It all started with a paint night. My whole family is incredibly artistic, so I suppose it just took me this long to find an art form that really pleased me. That’s where I discovered dot mandala art. I found it relaxing and it helped me cope with anxiety as I could work on my mandalas for hours at a time.
Then, a friend invited me to her house and introduced me to alcohol ink. I was hooked. I was able to find ceramic tiles from people who had unused leftover tiles after a renovation. After many failures, I finally figured out how to move the ink in a way that is quite beautiful.
To protect my ceramic tiles from scratching, I then turned to art resin. This is a lengthy and often frustrating process, but when I’m successful with it, the benefits are huge.
I also now make resin jewelry with natural flowers, and I cannot keep my resin pyramids in stock.
Are there any specific items you could suggest for Christmas gift ideas?
Many items I have for sale make excellent gifts for any occasion.
My ceramic tiles are priced starting at $26 for a 4” tile, $36 for a 6” tile, and $120 for a 12” tile.
My dot mandalas range in price from $60 for a 10” canvas and $80 for a 12” canvas. I’m currently working on a 3-foot round wood dot mandala which should be available for purchase in a week.
I also now carry craft kits, diamond dot kits, wooden puzzles (the ones with the odd shaped pieces) and paint by number kits.
Where can people purchase your art?
I have an online store at ArtbyAnnetteCanada.com.
If you prefer in-person service, I can easily be found at a few local markets: Fairview Farmers’ Market every Wednesday, Rycroft Farmers’ Market every Thursday and Peace River Farmers’ Market every 2nd Saturday.
There are several special markets coming up: Kickoff to Christmas at the Chateau Nova in Peace River on November 6 and the Grimshaw Christmas Market on November 19.