Studio Stories: Terri Lemire-Wilson's Home Studio
Ever wonder how our Show + Sale artists create art outside of school? For our August 2022 Studio Story, get a peek into illustrator/painter/animator Terri Lemire-Wilson's (she/her) home studio, where she spends her summer painting her signature landscapes (with the help of her two kitties of course).
Interview with Terri Lemire-Wilson
Q: “Tell me about your home studio! What is it like?”
A: I knew even before Covid-19 that I needed a separate space for my artwork, away from my kid and cats. We actually chose our current home because it has an extra room for me and space for my partner’s woodshop in the garage. If I had to describe my studio, I would say “organized chaos”. Picture a small bedroom filled to the brim with canvases, sketchbooks, and brushes for my painting practice and of course a large L desk and computer setup for my digital artwork. I keep a large inspiration board with some fun images and old sketches right above my desk and my daughter made me some little Lego people that I tuck in my windowsill. For my traditional artwork, I use pencil crayon and acrylics so occasionally I have to put down my canvas tarp to keep my carpet from getting messy. I’ve also learned to cover my paint and liquids since I have two curious kitties. All part of the fun!
Q: “How important is having your own space to make art?”
A: If I didn’t have a home studio, I would go mad from cleaning out a space every night. There’s something really nice about having a space to put things down and everything is right where you left it. I think it’s important to have a dedicated space to be creative as an artist. When I was at the University of Regina for my first BFA, I had a communal studio with my classmates. I loved being in a studio with other people and I miss that sometimes, but I am glad I have a dedicated space to work in; it definitely helps me separate my work life from my home life. In the summer I usually spend an average of 6 hours a day in the studio (animating, painting, doing admin stuff, ect) so I make a point of going on walks to people-watch and sketch for a bit of variety. I break my time up by working on different things, and I think that helps me avoid burnout or feeling pigeon-holed by a project.
Q: “What projects are you working on right now?”
A: Since I’m an illustrator in the BDes program, I usually work digitally when I’m in class. Summertime is my time to work on paintings I couldn’t get to during the school year. I do get some commission requests but right now I’m working on a series of acrylic landscapes on wood panel. I was actually a bit of a snob about landscape painting a few years ago (thanks to printmaking instructor I had) but one day a switch just flipped and suddenly landscapes were all that I wanted to paint. I love the way the prairies look, like pieces of a quilt. There’s something very warm and comforting about it. Though I’m not a fibre artist, lots of people around me quilt or sew. I have a few quilts my grandparents made that inspire me. My signature abstraction and neon colors give my landscapes the dreamy, nostalgic feeling I love. The goal is to exhibit a group show with a friend of mine at the student run Marion Nicoll Gallery on campus this fall with our paintings! I also plan to make some more prints, stickers, and zines for Show + Sale’s upcoming Winter Market.
Q: “How do you keep inspired when you’re actively creating all the time?”
A: I don’t usually have a problem staying inspired since I’m super interested in everything I make but it can be hard to get out of my own feedback loop when I don’t have other creative people around me. That’s why I make a point of getting out of the house to sketch and make time to watch and read other media. My daughter actually helps me out with this since she’s so funny and I get to watch things I normally wouldn’t watch as an adult. There’s a great podcast I listen to that says artists have to have good taste to create good work. Not good taste as in being trendy, but as in being open to new ideas and connected to the world around you. Looking at new art, reading new books, watching new shows all helps improve your artistic taste so you can be one step ahead of the trends. Artists don’t just live under a rock; all the art I look at helps me be a better illustrator, a better animator, and a better painter.
Take a Tour of Terri's Studio
Photo credit: Terri Lemire-Wilson
Welcome to my home studio! It may be small but it has everything I need to be creative.
My studio is separated into my digital area and my painting area. Behind my computer is my inspiration wall, where I keep sketches, little posters and prints, and other cool things.
I have two kitties who like to hang out with me sometimes in the studio. Sometimes they'll sit on my lap when I'm working. When you're a cat owner you learn to hang your paintings on the wall to dry instead of the floor and cover all your paint when you leave to avoid a mess.
My daughter's Lego figures can be seen on the right side of the window sill next to my desk.
I spend a lot of time sketching. I'm not an early riser but I enjoy working through the afternoons and evenings.
Once I finish sketches or paintings, I scan them so I can incorporate digital elements or turn my work into prints. Thanks for reading about my studio!
Hi! I’m Terri Lemire-Wilson, a fifth-year illustration student at AUArts. I moved to Calgary from Saskatoon in 2018 (on the hottest day this city has ever seen) with my kid, husband, and two fluffy old cats. My big loves include children’s books, sketchbooking, backgammon, soup and sandwich combos, pie, painting, and animation. My most prized possessions include a mounted and framed piranha named Wesley, my collection of enormous earrings, and the ever-overflowing floor-to-ceiling bookcase that lives beside my comfy couch. Photo credit: Terri Lemire-Wilson.
Instagram Account: @cashewhoneycakes
Website/Portfolio: www.terrilemire.ca
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