chantelle pellerin designs

Last week I had the pleasure of collaborating with two of my favorite Whistlerites, Photographer Darby Magill, and Writer Feet Banks, on an artist feature for the blog, Whistler Is Awesome.

The interview is currently featured in The Proof, for February 7, 2012.

Darby Magill is a Photographer based out of Whistler, B.C. She shoots weddings, families, lifestyle, and everything in between.

One thing that truly impresses me about Darby is that she remains true to her art form. She experiments with various cameras, actual film, polaroids, digital, etc… Through this experimentation, I think she may be looking for what many of us are looking for, perfection. Perfection through her eyes, the eyes of an artist.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to see the World through your filter.

Here is a little sample of what Darby and I came up with, and please go to Darby Magill Photography to view more images.

Here’s a little background on Feet Banks.

Feet is a man of many words, words he uses liberally I might add. His words grace the likes of many publications found in Whistler, such as, Pique newsmagazine, Mountain Life (Coast Mountains), and is Editor-in-Chief of The Whistler Insiders, a Tourism Whistler blog offering insight into what the “cool kids” do in Whistler.

Not only does Feet have a knack for the gab, but he is also a key player in many social events that take place in Whistler every year. Some that come to mind are the B-Grade Horror Film Festival, the Whistler Film Festival, and the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival. These events draw thousands of tourists to Whistler in both of the “Shoulder Seasons” and never disappoint as far as the entertainment factor goes – just as Feet’s public commentary is also not to be missed.

Feet’s ability to express the World as he sees it, allows us a little insight into the mind of a genius. He communicates, and his words are his art form. I feel so honored that he agreed to interview me, and I look forward to collaborations with my fellow artist in the future.

Here is the result of our interview for Whistler Is Awesome, February 7, 2012:

Wooden Happiness –Ideas and Works from Chantelle Pellerin

“I was 18 when I decided that Whistler was the place where all my dreams would come true,” says Chantelle Pellerin, artist, snowboarder, mountain biker, animal-lover and, apparently, teenage visionary. “But now, it’s the people who inhabit this place that keep me around. All of the amazing characters I’ve met over my years here– I love them so much.”

Love and art go well together but for “Chanti,” the creative process has always been more about experimentation. She paints, crafts jewelry, and is formally trained in fashion design but the 29-year-old artist says, “These days I have been working with a lot of wood.” (And not the kind in your pants fellas.)

“The wood is such a beautiful medium to work with,” Chantelle explains. “It’s so versatile, and provides inspiration in and of itself. When I was doing fashion design for work, I felt as though there were a lot of boundaries. After all, there are only so many ways you can wear clothes and be comfortable. For me, making art is about learning, and the learning comes from within. I still think about who my art may appeal to, but in the end I like the freedom to do what I want, how I want.”

Doing what she wants seems to be the right path as Chantelle has been selling work consistently for the past 5 years. Her latest hand-cut, wooden “Chanti-liers” hang over the smoky poker tables and private bars of many of Whistler’s finer underground parlors and speakeasies.

Success is relative though, and every artist seems to be searching for two things– an honest style and a little bit of happiness. Chantelle’s style is well on its way and here’s what she has to say about happiness…

“I’m starting to believe that the secret to happiness is something that comes from our own actions. There is no Happiness out there floating around in a little bubble waiting to fall and pop on someone. You become happy in the pursuit of something that is significant to you– it may even be just a management of fears.”

Interview By: Feet Banks