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Pursuit 365 · January 9, 2021

Pursuit 365 Day 9: Iris Mes-Low

@irismeslow

Iris is a visual artist based in Vancouver, who paints vibrant imagined landscapes as a means of healing from trauma.

My work is a colourful, idealized version of the world I see. As a child, I watched my father and he taught me much of what I know about art. We read art books, went to museums; Our home filled with music, composition, and colour.  

There has been a lot of darkness that I’ve fought through: Depression, a PTSD diagnosis, my father’s early loss. I put a box in my head, locked it, and forged on. But you can’t ignore hardened pain – it haunts nightmares and sporadic waking moments.  

Painting is the red thread through my life. I lived more and more in my head, where things were bright and kind, and I could control it all. The colours were more vibrant, the trees more stylized. I started trying to spill that world onto canvas. I carved out studio space in our home, bought art supplies on Craigslist when money was tight, and painted on whatever surface I could get my hands on. I made connections with other artists, joined arts organizations, volunteered at shows and craft fairs; I took every opportunity I could to showcase my work. 

Having talent is one thing, work is what makes an art career. I read voraciously about other artists; I practice techniques over and over; I’ll never be finished learning or improving.  Now my work hangs in galleries, I sell and take commissions, but I won’t be idle.

In painting the world, I sought solace from the dark. The damage, I carry into the light. I tried to paint the world around me, but it’s been me in the world, all along.

Even though I found ways to give voice to my trauma, the path I followed has not been a picnic. When I was young, you “got on with it”, or were told to. I grew up in survival mode. This meant being anything to anyone, to feel safe. Did you want someone submissive – then I was your gal. Someone funny – here I am. I lost myself. It was only late in life that it was possible to find ways to cope, because only since the 80’s did it even get a name: PTSD.

If I were to meet a young me, I would say: get to know yourself. There is such power in self-knowledge. We live in a time where we enjoy the ability to be who we are, man, woman, or not strictly; a sexual spectrum in lovely rainbow hue, to make the human experience more. More beautiful and more interesting. It’s one of the reasons my work is colourful. Not just the eyes or colour of one skin but in every possible ray. Just like trees, every shape, colour possible. The colour green alone has endless possibilities. So, my work is a reflection of how it should be; my ideal world.

My work can be viewed and purchased at either Roam Gallery or Vandop Gallery, New Westminster, BC.

–Iris Mes-Low

In: Pursuit 365 · Tagged: artist, Iris Mes-Low

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#canadianartists by Fresh. Available at @roamgall #canadianartists by Fresh. 
Available at @roamgallery featuring @golfoart_  "When I start painting I let loose. I’m diving into my inner world where no one else exists but me! I create the moment, I create art from the heart,I’ll never know how it will end. When I started the “lost in my jungle” we were in the midst of the pandemic. I was panicked, I felt wild animals were after me to harm me and the people I love, I was frantically looking for a clear passage to safety! I could see the light at the end but it looked so far away! Painting my fears free me from my agony and gave me more positive energy for the near future!"
-Golfo Tsakumis  16x20 acrylic on paper 
“Lost in my own jungle”
$300.00  #art #originalart #canadianartists #roamgallery #golfotsakumis #fearuredartist #artcollector #artlover #artistsoninstagram #painter #freshmag #pursuit365 #author
Pursuit 365 Day 20: Jenny Gough / @jenny.a.gough J Pursuit 365 Day 20: Jenny Gough / @jenny.a.gough
Jenny is an author, entrepreneur, motivational speaker and proud to chair International Association for Environmental Professionals.  "Our destiny is the opportunity to leave behind a legacy to help guide others, a chance to stand tall and share our incredible gifts, to establish and proclaim our philosophy, and in so doing, to change the world with our own unique song." - @jenny.a.gough
We ❤️ this mindset Jenny! 
To read Jennys feature visit freshmag.ca ( link above) and look under the pursuit365 tab.  Jenny is also a co-author in @pursuit_365  #pursuit365 #freshmagazine #freshmag #selflove #selfcare #philosophy #environmentalist #scientist #lifequotes #legacy #destiny #changingtheworld #lifegoals #speaker #motivationalspeaker
We at Fresh love original art so we have decided t We at Fresh love original art so we have decided to showcase some incredible Canadian artists 🎨 
We will launch  #canadianartists features off with one of our favorites : Available @roamgallery @jjonesart / 
Janine Jones
________________________  9:24  It’s a moment I’ve never shared
One I don’t want to
One I know was meant just for you
One I don’t want because of you
That’s the one that hurts  Song written by Rob Flaman  Title:  9:24 (Additional close up detail images provided)
Mixed media on panel
30 Inches Diameter x .75 Inches
$1,500 CAD (Original)
To find out more about this piece contact Jennifer @roamgallery
Or visit roamgallery.com  #artist #canadianartist #canadianwomen #artincanada #roamgallery #janinejonesoriginalpiece es #originalart #freshmagazine
#freshmag #gallery #mixedmedia
Pursuit 365 Day 19: Christine Monaghan / @stress_ Pursuit 365 Day 19: Christine Monaghan / 
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We salute you. 🙏🙏🙏 #martinlutherkingjr We salute you. 🙏🙏🙏
#martinlutherkingjr
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To read Danielles full article head to freshmag.ca and look under the pursuit365 tab.. 
Danielle is also a co-author in @pursuit_365
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#entrepreneur #law #lawyer #business #motivation #success #loyalty #mindset #inspirational  #lifestyle #motivationalquotes #life #quotes #lawfirm #pursuit365 #entrepreneurlife #smallbusiness #positivevibes #instagood #inspire #motivational #marketing #money #selflove #happiness #positivity #inspirationalquotes #businessowner #freshmag #canadianwomen
Let’s do something out of the norm together, rea Let’s do something out of the norm together, ready? ⠀  Let’s take a sec to reflect. We rarely make time to reflect these days, and there’s a good reason for that! ⠀  Reflecting means we have to look at all of it…⠀
The things that worked, ⠀
The things that didn’t work, ⠀  The things that hurt, ⠀  The things that broke us, ⠀  The things that made us, ⠀  The things that pushed us….⠀  When we reflect, we see it all…⠀  And seeing it all can bring up a lot of big emotions that we’d rather just avoid all together. ⠀  Knowing this, I have a question for you…⠀  What REALLY didn’t work for you in 2020? ⠀  What was it that REALLY pushed you outside your comfort zone? ⠀
Did the whole year really “suck”…or were there moments of joy? Were there seasons of beauty? Were there snippets of laughter? ⠀  It’s really easy to look back and GENERALIZE how the entire year went if we’re not intentional about how we reflect…⠀  And let’s get honest, 2020 was a different year. ⠀  It presented peaks and valleys with many highs and lows…⠀  And it’s a lot easier to get stuck in a valley than it is to climb to the peak.⠀  So when we reflect, many of us fall into the depths of the valley and get submersed in the darkness - we can no longer see the light! We only see what didn’t work…and we forget everything that did. ⠀  We forget what joy there was, what opportunities came to be, what golden nuggets were born from so much unknown….⠀
And because we forget to see the light…and the dark feels so uncomfortable…⠀We just avoid reflection! ⠀  Can you imagine looking back on 2020, and being guided through a process of integrating the LIGHT from 2020? Imagine being able to change your mind about challenges and what they mean for you? ⠀  Reflection doesn’t have to be dark…  It doesn’t have to be scary or boring…⠀  It doesn’t even have to be deep and meaningful!⠀  Reflection gets to be positive, a medium for light, a moment of self-love.⠀  Are you ready to reflect on who you’ve been to determine who you’ll become? ⠀  If you don’t learn the lessons, chances are…⠀
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Pursuit 365 Day 17: Deanna Rose @deannawrose Dean Pursuit 365 Day 17: Deanna Rose @deannawrose
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"Laugh as much as you can. The best part about everything in life is we can choose how we want to act and react. We always have the option of laughing our way through the good, the bad, and everything in between. Be true to yourself but choose laughter whenever you can." @deannawrose
We love this Dr Deanna!
Read  the entire interview at freshmag.ca  and the pursuit365 tab.  Dr Deanna is also a co-author in @pursuit_365  #freshmag #freshmagazine #womeninbusiness #womensupportingwomen #pursuit365 #womenempowerment #naturopath #selflove #quoteoftheday #empoweringwomen #confidence #bodylove #masterconfidence #torontowomen #health
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