Words Jo Barnes
Photos Renée Audy
For a writer, a blank 8.5- by 11-inch sheet of paper is a creative place to explore the imagination. However, the creative canvas for this local artist can measure over 200 feet in size!
Renée Audy is a professional mural artist who transforms walls and windows into inspiring art, most recently on the office windows of Saanich Peninsula Hospital and Healthcare
Foundation in Sidney. Part of a fundraising campaign for the hospital foundation, this mural will feature a portrait of Dr. Patrick Yang, Surgical Site Chief for the hospital. Renée’s works are showcased around B.C. and Alberta and as far away as Belize and Guatemala, and her passion for this kind of art shines through every piece.
“Art speaks to people. Large murals are more impactful to the audience; go big or go home!”, she shares. “You can’t deny seeing it when you see it. I like the wow factor.”
Renée moved from Alberta to the Island in 2011 and studied Visual Arts at Camosun College from 2012 to 2014. Since launching her mural business, Art Success, in 2018, her airbrush has rarely been out of her hands. She has been bringing windows and walls to life at numerous Peninsula sites including the Victoria International Airport, Sidney Pier Hotel, Garry Oak Veterinary Hospital, and Avenue B Home Décor. In addition to her wall and window art, she has even created artwork on asphalt at the Ogden Point Cruise Ship Terminal.
Her introduction to painting on walls happened when she was a child. “When I was 11 or 12, my first job was working for a lady who ran a costume shop. She asked me to paint a little mermaid on the walls,” Renée shares. “I started with small fish but then moved on to a big mermaid. It was six feet across. She was really happy with my mermaid. I worked with her for a few years. This is a really good memory.”
Whether window or wall, each mural starts as an idea that goes through many steps before its final realization. “I use Photoshop to create a mock-up or road map so the client can see what it will look like,” she says. “With my airbrush, I use a shading of gray to create the outline or grid. Then I build the mural layer by layer, colour by colour. I usually use a base coat on the wall such as light green for a forest.”
The work is challenging in terms of the tools and techniques. “I work with airbrushes, so I need to wear a mask and goggles,” Renee notes. “With wall murals, you have to prep the wall, and of course, the weather comes into play.”
In addition, work environments can greatly vary. There’s the potential for defacing from graffiti. “Graffiti can be a challenge. I put a special coating on that repels the paint by those doing graffiti,” she notes. “I work in different areas; some are a little rougher. I was in Victoria’s Rock Bay area for three months. It opened my eyes to people’s tough situations.”
The potential for impact and messaging is at the heart of Renée’s artwork. “With this kind of art, you paint for the elite or the homeless. Sometimes you see the change in people. You’re doing something positive in their space,” she relates. “I’m interested in spreading positivity, helping others pay attention to nature and conservation, and empowering people to be the best they can be.”
Whether her art appears on a large wall, storefront glass or an asphalt walkway, this is one Island artist whose work is both public and a power for positivity.
www.artsuccess.ca
