Schoon’s art looks at things that may seem ordinary but he finds intriguing and beautiful
Quesnel artist Guillaume Schoon opened his exhibit “The Mundane” at the Quesnel Art Gallery Thursday (Oct. 17) evening. The gallery, located at 500 North Star Road has been featuring local artists throughout the year.
Schoon shared his eye-catching work with people ranging from intricate drawings, to paintings to reclaimed wood he turned into art.
“If you’re not enjoying what you’re doing it’s probably not worth drawing it,” Schoon said. “I just had fun with it and everything is either something my kids wanted or asked me to draw for them.”
One of his pieces, a dog drawn with ink, is titled “For the Dog People.” He created it because his daughter insisted he have a dog in the exhibit because people love dogs. Of course, after he completed it his daughter asked “but what about the cat people?” and so he created another drawing called “For the Cat People.”
He said with all of his work, his number one goal is to have his children approve of it. He is inspired by the way they view the world and the opportunity they give him to rediscover and re-experience things that might seem mundane.
“It seems silly but that’s what I normally do,” he said. “It’s all inspired by family, love and hopefully that’s what people get from it.” Schoon said he hopes his work brings a smile or a chuckle to people who view it.
He acknowledged it’s a different kind of art than a beautifully crafted landscape or portrait. He said bold art with colours that pop can draw in some people who might admire more traditional art, but wouldn’t necessarily put it up in their homes.
“I think each generation here would see something different in the art,” he said.
As for the exhibit’s title of “The Mundane,” Schoon said there are things in life that seem simple and normal but they are actually beautiful.
“It’s the ordinary, the dull, the routine things.” he said. “We go by them day-by-day and we kind of miss the beauty in it.” Schoon hopes it influences people to stop for a moment and appreciate some of those ordinary things that have beauty in them. “If you have a pet, how does that pet colour your life? And on that specific day what did it do for you? And things like that. I think just reigniting the appreciation of what is in that moment.”
While Schoon has been doodling most of his life, this is his first time showing his work at a gallery. He said he doesn’t consider himself an artist, just artistic. He’s been more seriously working on pieces like what he has in the exhibit for around three years.
“I’d say I do it as a hobby,” he said, adding he isn’t intimidated or nervous about having his work on display because as long as he enjoyed making it and his kids love it, he’s happy with his work.
“The Mundane” will be in the gallery until Nov. 8. Then beginning Nov. 16 the “Beaux Arts Bazaar” will begin, which will give art gallery member artists a chance to present, and sell, their unique work.