
Ms. Paquette
By Hailey Xi
Ms. Janelle Paquette’s journey began in Calgary, Alberta, where she lived until she was 18. She then moved to Victoria for university, staying there for six years before relocating to Vancouver for further studies. Ms. Paquette has a deep passion for music, which profoundly influences her other artistic endeavors. When writing short stories or working on her novel, she creates entire soundtracks to capture the mood she aims to achieve. This connection to music extends to her textile work and painting. Music has always been a significant part of her life, with jazz and disco being her musical touchstones, thanks to her parents. A self-described band nerd in high school, she considers music her safe space. Rowing, swimming, and hiking are essential activities for Ms. Paquette. She has been swimming consistently since high school and started rowing in university.
By Hailey Xi
Ms. Janelle Paquette’s journey began in Calgary, Alberta, where she lived until she was 18. She then moved to Victoria for university, staying there for six years before relocating to Vancouver for further studies. Ms. Paquette has a deep passion for music, which profoundly influences her other artistic endeavors. When writing short stories or working on her novel, she creates entire soundtracks to capture the mood she aims to achieve. This connection to music extends to her textile work and painting. Music has always been a significant part of her life, with jazz and disco being her musical touchstones, thanks to her parents. A self-described band nerd in high school, she considers music her safe space. Rowing, swimming, and hiking are essential activities for Ms. Paquette. She has been swimming consistently since high school and started rowing in university.
Initially, Ms. Paquette learned to paint using watercolour and ink drawing. Her mother taught her embroidery, a medium she now experiments with in her paintings for a multidimensional effect. Lately, she has been experimenting with layering acrylic paint with various objects. She believes that all art is an incredibly vulnerable act of self-expression. She acknowledges that a younger version of herself would have denied her art was influenced by personal emotions, wanting it to be perceived independently of who she is. However, she now realizes that her inclination came from understanding that art inherently reflects personal feelings and experiences. “Be weird! Find your own lane. Make up your own language, and those willing to learn will figure out how to read it,” advises Ms. Paquette, encouraging budding artists to embrace their unique creative voices.
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Ms. Paquette has a diverse range of hobbies, which she rotates through every few months. These include drawing, embroidery, writing, plant care, cooking, and baking. As a foodie, she began experimenting with food when she first lived on her own, viewing cooking as an act of self-care to ensure she eats delicious and healthy meals. A major inspiration for her was one of her creative writing professors during her first degree, Lee Henderson. He encouraged her to push herself and have confidence in her writing abilities, striking a perfect balance between challenge and support. On a broader scale, Ms. Paquette admires Charli XCX, describing her as a unique female voice in the pop music landscape. She has followed Charli’s career since high school, finding her music consistently resonates through different phases of her life.
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