The Scribbler is very happy to have Sylvie as our guest this
week. She has kindly agreed to share some of her beautiful photos and participate in a 4Q Interview.
Growing up in a New-Brunswick fishing
village it didn’t seem possible
that someone could create a livelihood pursuing artistic expression. Being from
a very practical family, she steered away from the deep longing to create. But
eventually she just couldn’t
deny the hunger to live her truest self.
Make-up artistry was her first
opportunity. While working as a dental assistant in Moncton, a TV producer
landed in the dental chair. That’s where she got her first break landing a
daily gig doing make-up on background cast.
“I wanted more. I wanted to live in that creative world and pursue my
dream of becoming a full-time artist.” says Sylvie. But New Brunswick isn’t exactly a mecca of media production. In
her 30th year the opportunity arose to moved to Toronto and pursue make-up artistry more seriously. “I
quickly learned that pursuing your dreams is damn hard work. It took me six
months to find my feet and when I did I landed in the world of independent
Canadian film. I appreciated the opportunity but I couldn’t ignore the feeling that maybe I wasn’t in the most ideal place for how I
wanted to fully express myself. I felt the pull into the world of fashion.”
Soon she was collaborating with photographers on everything from
make-up & hair to artistic direction. This is where her true love of
artistic expression found its’ synergy. Earning a good living doing what she loved while growing as
an artist in every way.
Just when she was peaking and finding her
stride, everything changed. Pregnancy. Parenthood.
And like others who found themselves as
first time parents away from extended family, the pull to go home was
undeniable. Artistic expression would have to wait.
“I came home with my eyes wide open and
knew that earning a living doing what I loved might not be possible. I tried
jobs related to my career and knew, I was trying to recapture what I had
instead of accepting the new reality.”
After much introspection and dabbling in other mediums, her heart
eventually settled on photography. After all she had stood beside many of the
top photographers in Canada and felt confident it was the means most closely
aligned to her artistic identity. But instead of a controlled studio space, she
wanted to find compelling expression in the world around her. Reconnect with
her environment. The more she practiced her craft the more she felt drawn to
the world of abstraction & colour.
Instead of merely reflecting back the
world around her, small, minute details caught her attention. The more she
captured these solemn moments the more she started to find her creative self
once again. The more she found her creative self the more opportunity she saw
to give it a purpose. And so she did. “My work is about finding beauty in the
mundane. And once again, I have found my artistic voice.”
4Q. When did you develop your interest in taking photos?
SM: About 15 years ago. I
was working as a make-up artist in Toronto. I had to take pictures of actors
for continuity purposes. The industry was just starting to switch to digital
from Polaroid and I bought myself a Canon Powershot G3. It was love at first click. I still have it
as a matter of fact. The sets were
always perfectly lit. I would take
advantage of it in my down time to snap away.
Plus the streets of Toronto always have something interesting going on
at any given time.
4Q: Are your photos planned or spontaneous?
SM: I would say 95% of my
images are spontaneous. I have dabbled in still life and staging a few shots
but it never looks like it does in my mind’s eye. I prefer letting the subject
speak and reveal its self to me. I do give myself themes sometimes like for
example only shoot things that are yellow or round or 10 feet from the house.
4Q: Pleased share a childhood anecdote or memory.
SM: Wow a child hood memory.
So many to choose from like picking wild berries with my
grandmothers and making homemade jams. Sunday drives down to the docks to get
soft vanilla ice-cream from the dairy bar, swimming in the river from sun up to
sundown with my feet all cut from chards of glass stuck in the mud, climbing
the big pine tree in my back yard to the very top and swaying in the wind,
listening to my mom play Fleetwood Mac songs on the guitar, canoeing with my
dad, skating on the frozen river & ponds. These are a few of my favourites
4Q: What should we know about your future in photography? Any
shows planned?
SM: My vision is to have
gallery exhibits around the world but for now I have an exhibit in a local
Gallery in Moncton: “The Champlain
Dental Gallery”. Yes you read it right. A dental office that also acts as an
art gallery and support to local artists.
For a few Sunday’s this summer I’ll be at the local market in
Shediac, New-Brunswick
People can also visit my web site and place orders:
Thank you Sylvie for sharing your exceptional shots and for being our guest.
And thanks to you - the visitors. Please leave a comment below.
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