The Art of Russ Paquette

Biography:
I live and work as a painter in Ottawa, Canada, and have been involved in group and solo art shows in Ottawa, Toronto, and Nova Scotia.  You can see some of my work here on my website and at ADJA Studio & Gallery in Liverpool, Nova Scotia.  My paintings have found homes in Ontario, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, British Columbia, the United States and beyond.  At the 2014 Ottawa Art Expo I was honoured to be the Winner of the Ottawa Humane Society Animal Art Award for my painting "Going Home".

My Metis heritage is from the Quebec side of my grandmother's  family.  Both she and my grandfather were from large French Canadian families, him being from the Vanier/Cyrville quarries area of early Ottawa.  I was born in Ottawa, but spent my formative years in St John’s, Newfoundland where my mother's side of the family are from. My Newfoundland grandmother’s house was on a steep hill that led down to the waterfront. From her back pantry I could see and smell the ocean passageway that leads to the harbour. These early maritime years have had a profound effect on me, artistically and spiritually.

During my teenage years my father retired from the army and our family returned back to our Ottawa roots after having lived at a few military bases in Canada.  Growing up I always loved to sketch, paint and create art, but my formal art training took place when I studied and graduated from the Commercial Art & Design program at Algonquin College.  I was employed for many years in Ottawa as a full-time commercial artist, designing commercial architectural signage.  I have also earned a two year diploma in Small Business Management from Algonquin College. Years later I then went back to school and earned a four year religious degree and became an inner-city clergy, pastoring in Vanier and the west end of Ottawa.  For many years my wife and I (and our senior dogs), have travelled to Nova Scotia during the summer to vacation, to paint, and to connect with the South Shore community.  The house we own in Nova Scotia is located in Queens County, located along the picturesque Atlantic south shore Lighthouse Route.

I love being an artist. I must admit to cherishing those times of sitting down in my studio with canvas and paint, great music and a hot beverage, and a multitude of creative ideas. I have always been intrigued by nature, by the ocean especially, but also by people and the places they create for themselves. I am inspired by the infinite treasures that are all living things.  I am inspired by common things.  

The art I create from my imagination has special significance to me because it is my way of self exploration. It allows me to create paintings where I can take a bold step and colour outside the boundaries of logic. My imaginative art has many layers of symbolic meaning and I am often surprised by how many times the depth of that meaning finds greater significance long after the painting has been completed.   My Symbolic art allows me to explore the sacredness of my life's calling.

October 2022 ; Russ’ journey from his brain tumour surgeries and post stroke recovery.
At the encouragement of the physiotherapy department at the Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre here in Ottawa, I, Patty, was encouraged to include my husband “Russ’ amazing story and his new artistic pieces on his art webpage.
October 2022 saw major changes in Russ’ life. Thanksgiving weekend when we should have been at a concert at the National Arts Centre we found ourselves in the emergency department because Russ had vertigo. It was discovered that he had a rare brain tumour … eight hour surgery followed a few days later to successfully remove it. While Russ was recovering with the expectation of returning home, he unexpectedly suffered a massive brain bleed. That set into motion a whole new dynamic. He needed to go to the operating room to be opened up three more times. He spent a long and difficult time in ICU fighting for his life. A barrage of nurses and doctors cared for him and breathed Hope into our hearts for his recovery. Eighteen long months in hospital that has left him hemiplegic and unable to do many of the things he had enjoyed for a lifetime. His wife Patty retired from her job, sold their home of 42 years and bought a condo apartment so that Russ and his wheelchair could come home to an accessible new place to life with Patty as his primary caregiver. An army of family and friends surrounded and helped us in so many ways. Miraculously Russ survived his trauma in ICU. Miraculously Russ has maintained his ability to speak. Miraculously he can still draw and paint, although his style has changed due to the changes in his brain and body. He still focuses on his drawing theme of “fish”. Even early days of his recovery he was drawing again! We put a pencil and sketchbook in front of him and he was drawing his trademark and lifelong love of Fish. Major life changes happen to every family. We are no exception. We are so grateful that Russ survived and is still with us. He still enjoys life inspite of its major changes. He and Patty still go to the National Gallery regularly, Russ takes art classes from his friend Bhat Boy, he and Patty travel around the city on Para Transpo to enjoy and take in various events and activities together. Family and friends have been our amazing support in so many ways. We are very grateful that Russ is still with us and encouraged that his love for art has not diminished. We want to celebrate Russ’s new style that has been emerging since he started to draw again, which was a few months following his brain surgery and brain bleed stroke … his latest drawings will be posted on here.

Artist Statement:
For the past few years I have focused on acrylic painting, but I love and am proficient with detailed graphite drawings.  My pieces are often taken from the point of view of someone standing at the edge of life and time looking in. There is a spiritual aspect to everything I paint and this allows me to perceive things in quiet gentle lines, colors and gradations.   
My work reflects the peace I seek to experience for myself. It is my prayer that my art becomes a respite from the hectic pace of modernity. I often ponder the complexity of our human existence. I look for, and paint the details that exist in and behind everything. I find elements of the sacred in common everyday events. I invite you to view my work, and to see with me a beauty that expresses itself in the depth and detail of contemplative mystery.

GALLERY REPRESENTATION ; ONTARIO & NOVA SCOTIA
Orange Art Gallery, 290 City Centre Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario ; gallery closed December 2023.
http:www.orangeartgallery.ca

ADJA Studio & Gallery, 177 Main Street, Liverpool, Nova Scotia

Sipuke'l Gallery (Acadia First Nation), Town Hall Arts & Cultural Centre, 219 Main Street, Liverpool, Nova Scotia ; this wonderful gallery closed its doors in June 2019 due to retirement. I am grateful to have been able to exhibit here.

AWARDS & HONOURS
Ottawa Humane Society Animal Art Award -  Ottawa Art Expo - October 2014

I am honoured by the encouragement of friends and family who cheer me on from the sidelines!
I am honoured each time someone sees value in my art and chooses to purchase and display my art in their home or gift it to someone special.
I am honoured each time someone commissions me to create a special painting for a special gift for themselves or as a gift for someone significant in their life.
I am honoured to have been one of the Ottawa artists selected to create a ceiling tile for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. It was painted to hang above a bed in one of the patients rooms. It is meant to bring a sense of calm and peace in the midst of a medical storm.
I am honoured to have paintings hanging in the Elizabeth Bruyere Centre in Ottawa, and in Harbour View Haven in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, in gratitude of excellent care received & in memory of loved ones who have passed away.
I am honoured to have been commissioned to paint an historical 100th Anniversary commemorative painting in honour of Carleton Place’s WW1 Pilot Roy Brown that now hangs in the Carleton Place Constituency Office of Scott Reid, Member of Parliament, Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston.
I am honoured to have a painting in the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa.


ART LESSONS
Orange Art School, Orange Art Gallery, Ottawa ; I  teach at Orange Art Gallery on a regular basis. The gallery closed in December 2023.


PUBLICATIONS, MEDIA
Two Ports Lighthouse Awareness Art Show Calendar's - Nova Scotia - 2014 (Cover), 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Ottawa Citizen, October 25, 2014 ; http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/around-town-art-comes-to-life-at-ottawa-art-expo
Glebe Report, November 2015 + several other issues
The Advance, Liverpool NS - July 2016
QCCR 99.3 FM Radio (Liverpool, NS) ; www.qccrfm.com/  ; radio interview, July 2016
The Beat - University of Ottawa Heart Institute - Sept. 2019 ; https://www.ottawaheart.ca/the-beat/2019/09/17/heart-institute-art-project-turns-ceiling-healing

ART ASSOCIATIONS & ARTISTIC LINKS OF INTEREST
AOE Arts Council, Ottawa ; http://www.artsoe.ca
Arteast ; www.arteastottawa.com/

A FEW OF THE CHARITABLE CAUSES I CARE ABOUT
Nova Scotia Lighthouse Art Show
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada
The Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre
The University of Ottawa Heart Institute
Camp Quality of Eastern Ontario for children with cancer   
Boxer Rescue Ontario
Ottawa Humane Society
Nichola Goddard Foundation