Indigenous artist Patrick Hunter inspires creative confidence

By Rick Garrick

FORT WILLIAM — A group of artists enjoyed an acrylic paint class led by Indigenous artist, graphic designer, and award-winning entrepreneur Patrick Hunter on Dec. 12 at the Fort William First Nation Community Centre’s Cultural Room. Hunter, who is originally from Red Lake in northwestern Ontario, was also scheduled to deliver another paint class for youth on Dec. 13 at Fort William’s Youth Centre.

“I’ve been to a few of Patrick’s events and this is a lesson for me to remember: not everything needs to be perfect,” says Dana Coreau, a Fort William citizen who created two paintings during the paint class. “Our artwork is a piece of us and a piece of our spirit and it reminds me every time I look at it, so it brings me joy.”

Denise Collins, a Fort William citizen, says Hunter’s paint class was “really relaxing.”

“I do a lot of crafting and I find that relaxing and this I find very relaxing,” Collins says. “This is the first time I tried it, but I like it. I’m glad I came tonight.”

Hunter says he showed the participants how to create an acrylic painting using one of his Seven Grandfather Teachings templates or a Christmas tree template.

“I like to inspire people to have creative confidence,” Hunter says. “I think a lot of people just need that little push in order to know they can be creative in their own time.”

Hunter says he has been delivering art workshops across Ontario since this past spring, including previously in Fort William.

“[It was the] same workshop, mostly different people,” Hunter says. “It’s nice to visit Thunder Bay. I live in Toronto most of the time but I’m making my way to Sault Ste. Marie. I bought some land last year and I’m developing an art studio there.”

Rachel Mishenene, an Eabametoong citizen, says Hunter’s paint class was “really fun.”

“It’s nice to learn someone else’s technique,” Mishenene says. “I’m an artist myself but it’s really nice to be able to sit and try someone else’s art style and [see] how they’re teaching others. It’s bringing community together, it’s allowing us to sit and be at peace and to really enjoy the opportunity to try something new and step out of our comfort zone.”

Melissa Cook, who lives in Fort William, says this was her second art class with Hunter.

“It’s a nice and easy-to-follow design but it gives you a lot of freedom of your own creative expression,” Cook says. “Patrick’s a great teacher — I love how the colours blend together and there’s kind of a strategy to using different colours.”

Mairead Coreau, a Fort William citizen, says she finished up the set of Seven Grandfather Teachings paintings at the paint class with some help from her sister and daughter.

“We love coming out and spending the night doing these wonderful artsy paintings,” Mairead says. “I love working with everybody and seeing everybody’s unique perspective on it, it’s always nice to see other people’s artwork.”

Spencer Boucher, a Fort William citizen, says he finished one painting and started another during the paint class.

“It was a lot of fun,” Boucher says, noting that he changed up his artwork by painting the Seven Grandfathers Teaching feather design on an angle instead of the usual vertical alignment. “I like to be different.”

Boucher also enjoyed working with the other artists during the paint class, noting that he picked up some painting skills from the other participants.

“I think they should do this more often,” Boucher says.