By Millie Huang
There is something little known to the students here at Collingwood School: they are living in the presence of a master cake baker. The person I am about to write about is none other than Elaine Evans, a member of the faculty and Collingwood’s very own Executive Director of Advancement.
Art has always been intertwined with Elaine’s family’s history. Her grandfather was a war artist and her mother owned an art gallery gift shop. As a crafty child growing up, she was always busy painting and later started making jewelry in university. Elaine views her passion for cake baking as simply a continuation of what she’s been doing throughout her life, which is spending some time to enjoy and focus on a quiet process and to create a work of art.
There is something little known to the students here at Collingwood School: they are living in the presence of a master cake baker. The person I am about to write about is none other than Elaine Evans, a member of the faculty and Collingwood’s very own Executive Director of Advancement.
Art has always been intertwined with Elaine’s family’s history. Her grandfather was a war artist and her mother owned an art gallery gift shop. As a crafty child growing up, she was always busy painting and later started making jewelry in university. Elaine views her passion for cake baking as simply a continuation of what she’s been doing throughout her life, which is spending some time to enjoy and focus on a quiet process and to create a work of art.
Armed with only buttercream and fondant, she is able to create everything from a field of flowers to a tier of elegant butterflies. She usually starts around 7 o’clock at night, finishing around midnight. Elaine reveals that it is often a quite peaceful and calm experience to work in the kitchen (which she jokes is the closest space to a studio for a single mother), while listening to her favourite playlist. Her efficiency has increased with time, but she still mentions that occasionally some things can go wrong. When she makes a mistake, she often recreates the part again, as in the case of the complicated logo for the Hollyburn Huskies which she remade 3 times for a recent cake. Elaine takes requests, but enjoys those that are on the unspecific side the most as she has the creative freedom to make something imaginative. Elaine was even invited to apply for CBC’s The Great Canadian Baking Show where she became one of the ten final applicants in Vancouver.
Although it is hard to narrow an artistic philosophy down to a few words, Elaine mentions that she places much importance on the skill of observing. Since many great works of art have arisen through observation, there is a lot to be gained by carefully and mindfully looking at our environment to find sources of inspiration or creative notions. She cites Buddhist sand art as an influence to her baking, intricate mandalas drawn with extreme detail by pouring sand onto the floors of temples. No matter how precise, the art is later swept away, part of a Buddhist notion that everything is temporary. In the same way, she spends much time perfecting the beautiful decorations on her themed cakes although she knows they will later be eaten. Even so, she gives every cake lots of time because, after all, there is also significant value in art that is non-permanent.
Although it is hard to narrow an artistic philosophy down to a few words, Elaine mentions that she places much importance on the skill of observing. Since many great works of art have arisen through observation, there is a lot to be gained by carefully and mindfully looking at our environment to find sources of inspiration or creative notions. She cites Buddhist sand art as an influence to her baking, intricate mandalas drawn with extreme detail by pouring sand onto the floors of temples. No matter how precise, the art is later swept away, part of a Buddhist notion that everything is temporary. In the same way, she spends much time perfecting the beautiful decorations on her themed cakes although she knows they will later be eaten. Even so, she gives every cake lots of time because, after all, there is also significant value in art that is non-permanent.
One piece of advice she would give budding artists would be the importance of continuous growth. One of Elaine’s good friends is a successful painter, and when she discovered that her work was being plagiarized, she said it forced her to keep moving, challenging herself, and growing as an artist. The evolution of her style with time was very satisfying to her and it became hard to copy. So although not everyone has experienced plagiarism, it can be said nonetheless that it is important for artists to focus on their individual artistic development.
Some of her other hobbies include cooking, and she lives a second life as a food writer for the magazine Men’s Health. She also loves to travel, dance, and she does a fair amount of gardening for her big yard at home would be overwhelming if left untended.
Although some friends encourage her to open up her own bakery, she states that she simply likes to bake and thinks of it of a hobby. She explains that “when you make something a job, it often becomes no longer pleasurable.” Ultimately, Elaine prefers to give her cakes away as gifts, instead of selling them. We can't wait for Elaine’s next spectacular cake creation and wish her continued success in the future.
Some of her other hobbies include cooking, and she lives a second life as a food writer for the magazine Men’s Health. She also loves to travel, dance, and she does a fair amount of gardening for her big yard at home would be overwhelming if left untended.
Although some friends encourage her to open up her own bakery, she states that she simply likes to bake and thinks of it of a hobby. She explains that “when you make something a job, it often becomes no longer pleasurable.” Ultimately, Elaine prefers to give her cakes away as gifts, instead of selling them. We can't wait for Elaine’s next spectacular cake creation and wish her continued success in the future.