By Evelyn Tu
Ms. Meghan Chase is a new addition to the Collingwood Arts Department. However, she is far from a stranger to our school. Recounting fond memories and the sense of community and support Collingwood offered, this accomplished alumni and Collingwood lifer has returned to offer her expertise and to nurture budding artists.
Ms. Chase was born and raised in Vancouver. From a young age, she enjoyed activities that let her creativity and self-expression free. Unlike other children who indulged in technology such as televisions and game consoles, she was preoccupied with arts and crafts activities instead. She can still remember how she felt when she received her first easel when she was three-year-old, creating her first masterpiece with blobs and lines. Ms. Chase credits her exposure to such activities and the continued support of her mother as key aspects of her passion for art.
Naturally, creative courses such as English and Art were her favourite subjects at school. She discovered that studio art was a space where she felt she could be creative and experiment with many different ideas and mediums. Her AP Art 12 class was a pivotal experience for her, as it was there she found her true artistic identity and personal style. From a technical standpoint, she found that the application of brushy, soft-coloured strokes on large canvases often created her best pieces. From a thematic standpoint, she found herself drawn to whimsical settings and consistently found inspiration in children's storybooks. She continued to pursue studio art at university. Although there were stressful periods induced by tight deadlines and heavy workload, she thoroughly enjoyed her experience and was willing to dedicate long hours to painting in the studio. Looking back at her college days, she believes her efforts pushed her to new bounds, honing her skills and refining her creative process.
Along her journey, Ms. Chase has developed her own unique philosophy towards art.
She believes that art is an outlet for feelings and personalities. With most art, viewers should be able to grasp the emotions the artist attempts to convey through his or her artwork. The brush strokes, line, colour, and composition all serve as hints for the viewers to piece together a story that is ultimately unique to themselves. It is a form of communication that is irreplaceable by words, and also transcends words as language and cultural barriers are largely eliminated. Anyone can take meaning from a piece of artwork.
For Ms. Chase, her goal is to bring joy to viewers by helping them escape to the colourful paradises her artwork depicts. Her recent project involves writing and illustrating a children's book that discusses the theme of gender stereotypes. She hopes to create many more books that address social justice issues and promote change and empowerment for youth. Art has become an inseparable element of Ms. Chase’s life, a therapeutic and peaceful way to look within herself. As an art teacher, she strives to deliver the same positivity she received from art to her students and hopes that more people will discover the joys of art.
Ms. Meghan Chase is a new addition to the Collingwood Arts Department. However, she is far from a stranger to our school. Recounting fond memories and the sense of community and support Collingwood offered, this accomplished alumni and Collingwood lifer has returned to offer her expertise and to nurture budding artists.
Ms. Chase was born and raised in Vancouver. From a young age, she enjoyed activities that let her creativity and self-expression free. Unlike other children who indulged in technology such as televisions and game consoles, she was preoccupied with arts and crafts activities instead. She can still remember how she felt when she received her first easel when she was three-year-old, creating her first masterpiece with blobs and lines. Ms. Chase credits her exposure to such activities and the continued support of her mother as key aspects of her passion for art.
Naturally, creative courses such as English and Art were her favourite subjects at school. She discovered that studio art was a space where she felt she could be creative and experiment with many different ideas and mediums. Her AP Art 12 class was a pivotal experience for her, as it was there she found her true artistic identity and personal style. From a technical standpoint, she found that the application of brushy, soft-coloured strokes on large canvases often created her best pieces. From a thematic standpoint, she found herself drawn to whimsical settings and consistently found inspiration in children's storybooks. She continued to pursue studio art at university. Although there were stressful periods induced by tight deadlines and heavy workload, she thoroughly enjoyed her experience and was willing to dedicate long hours to painting in the studio. Looking back at her college days, she believes her efforts pushed her to new bounds, honing her skills and refining her creative process.
Along her journey, Ms. Chase has developed her own unique philosophy towards art.
She believes that art is an outlet for feelings and personalities. With most art, viewers should be able to grasp the emotions the artist attempts to convey through his or her artwork. The brush strokes, line, colour, and composition all serve as hints for the viewers to piece together a story that is ultimately unique to themselves. It is a form of communication that is irreplaceable by words, and also transcends words as language and cultural barriers are largely eliminated. Anyone can take meaning from a piece of artwork.
For Ms. Chase, her goal is to bring joy to viewers by helping them escape to the colourful paradises her artwork depicts. Her recent project involves writing and illustrating a children's book that discusses the theme of gender stereotypes. She hopes to create many more books that address social justice issues and promote change and empowerment for youth. Art has become an inseparable element of Ms. Chase’s life, a therapeutic and peaceful way to look within herself. As an art teacher, she strives to deliver the same positivity she received from art to her students and hopes that more people will discover the joys of art.
“Tea Party,” Medium: Acrylic paint on canvas,
Size: 61 x 45.5 cm
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Medium: Multi-colour reduction lino block ink print on rag paper, Size: 55 x 73.5 cm
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“Diamond Head,” Medium: Acrylic on canvas, Size: 30.5 x 30.5cm
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Select pages from True to You Children’s Book, Medium: watercolour and black ink pen
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Link to the full recording of her book: