Graphic Design Student Larissa Stanley Brings Indigenous Art to Life at Prestigious Atelier Artist Residency in France
Larissa Stanley just returned home to the Liard First Nation in Yukon following a whirlwind, monthlong trip to Europe that included a prestigious two-week artist residency in France.
The Online Graphic Design & Interactive Media student, who belongs to the Kaska Dena people and Crow Clan, was selected as one of just eight artists to participate in the Atelier Artist in Residence program in November.
“I am beyond grateful that I was able to work alongside the other artists and learn from them, as well as build relationships that will continue on for years to come,” Stanley said of the residency, which saw her live and work with seven other select artists from the United States, Australia and Canada at the Chateau Bouthonvilliers in Dangeau, France.
“Being with likeminded people was a really special experience, something I hadn’t felt before and it’s hard to describe the way we all lifted each other up and supported one another.”
Over the course of the two-week residency, Stanley said she and her fellow artists – who included a sculptor, a photographer, a textiles artist, an abstract artist, an oil painter, two illustrators and a pattern artist – had the opportunity to share their different mediums and styles, making for a well-rounded experience by all.
“As well, there was a mix of newer and experienced artists, so we could learn from one another,” she said of the program.
During her time in the residency, Stanley focused primarily on patterns she now plans to use as inspiration for the beadwork she sells at Art of Larissa Stanley, alongside her other artwork, which includes acrylic, watercolour, gouache, and woodburning pieces, among others.
“I like to think my art is a blend of traditional First Nation styles and my own contemporary style mixed together in a fun and unique way. I love playing with colours and patterns, my favorite things to create are digital illustrations and beadwork,” she said, noting that her main piece emerging her two-week Atelier experience was an art nouveau style portrait inspired by all the French and Asian artwork in the Chateau.
“Art in any and every form is something I love and want to learn more about. My goal in life to become a knowledge keeper, so that I can pass down teachings to newer generations.”
That newfound goal is one Stanley only came to realize after first spending a “soul-destroying” 10 years working in finance and making the difficult decision to follow her heart back to her art on a full-time basis.
“I created my business four years ago and decided to put more effort into it when I quit my finance job a little over a year ago,” she said of the Art of Larissa Stanley online shop.
“When I became curious about other avenues my business could branch out into that still included art aspects, I thought graphic design seemed the best fit – and Toronto Film School was my top choice because of the ability to do the work on my own time and online.”
Stanley said she’s thankful for the flexibility the Online Graphic Design & Interactive Media program has provided her with – especially since it allowed her to take the time off from her studies needed to participate in the artist residency, plus an additional two weeks spent visiting galleries and museums elsewhere around Europe – from Rome, the Vatican and Florence, to Lucerne, Paris and Amsterdam.
“I got to see the Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museums, St. Peter’s Basilica, Pantheon, Colosseum, the Venice canals, Musee d’Orsay, Arc de Triomphe, and Van Gogh Museum, and I saw the Moulin Rouge show,” she said. “Gosh, it was a lot packed into a month!”
