Pic Mobert artist began art to explore identity and express emotions

By Rick Garrick

Pic Mobert artist Candace Twance incorporates layers into her visual artwork to indicate there is more to life than is visible — and there are layers to reality.

“I like to blend the traditional woodland style with contemporary elements (such as) abstraction and image transfers or photos,” Twance says. “It’s mixed media; I’m always trying to create layers in my work to suggest a different realm or to suggest life energy.”

Twance describes her artwork as contemporary Indigenous. She uses bright colours of acrylic paint in her work.

“I feel that is part of what I learned from some of the other woodland painters who came before me,” Twance says. “I know they used colour in a healing capacity, so that is something I always have in mind when I am working too.”

Twance usually begins her work by applying modelling paste or another textural element such as fabric to create a base. She also applies beads and other small textural elements directly on the art surface to create a tactile quality.

“Sometimes I use diluted colour with black marks,” Twance says. “Then I go over with a lighter wash just to make different layers to make my work look like it has a depth to the surface.”

Twance first began doing art to explore her identity and to express her emotions. She has since been defining her style over the years.

“I found art to be a useful tool for healing,” Twance says, noting she began following an unhealthy path for a time during high school. “Art was something I could throw my energy into, to break the cycle I was in. It helped me to work through my own emotions; it helped me to explore my own identity.”

Twance has since been keeping the healing aspects of colours in mind when she is working.

“I had the chance to meet Norval Morrisseau years ago,” Twance says. “When he talked about how he worked and the colours he used, that always stuck with me.”

Jane Ash Poitras and George Littlechild were two other main influences for Twance. Her mother often took her to art exhibition openings at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery when she was young.

“My mom exposed me to the art world at a young age and fostered what she saw in my ability when I was young,” Twance says. ”Throughout the years there have been great exhibits coming through the Thunder Bay Art Gallery and with my mom exposing me to (these artists), it really helped shape who I am.”

Twance now takes her own two children, aged one and four, along with her when she attends art exhibitions.

“They’ve been to the Thunder Bay Art Gallery with me,” Twance says. “They’ve been to Definitely Superior Art Gallery with me.”

Twance wants to create her own solo art exhibition at some point in the future.

“And I’d also like to take an opportunity to show my art outside of Thunder Bay as well,” Twance says.

Twance graduated with a fine arts degree from Lakehead University in 2012. She credits her studies for benefiting her skill development.

“People are born to be artists,” Twance says. “Everybody is creative, but I was always making art. I was in high school when I realized art could be a career; it could be more than a hobby.”

Twance has posted her art on her website at candacetwance.com as well as on her Facebook page: facebook.com/candacetwanceartist.

“I post my work on Instagram and I post it on an art page on my Facebook,” Twance says. “It’s just to create that visibility.”