FLUX 2021 - Maxine Trepanier

Email: mbtrepan@gmail.com

Maxine Trepanier is a resourceful and motivated artist with four years of 2D and 3D education in traditional art techniques and digital media from the University of Waterloo. These skills have allowed her to become a result-oriented illustrator, meaning she finds great satisfaction from being proficient at producing manual and computer designs, especially when gaining feedback from fellow artists. Maxine often combines oils and acrylics to produce custom images and designs. She establishes harmonious visual paths to create the mood of a piece based on the environments and personalities surrounding her. She is a creator concentrated on generating and cultivating a sought-after trademark in the visual arts arena through a unique individual aesthetic.

Artist Statement

The concept portrayed through my body of work is the Seven Deadly Sins, which are different from the Ten Commandments. The Seven Deadly Sins were formerly based on eight critical vices. The list of these vices was formed by the secretive Evagrius Ponticus back in the late fourth century. His work then sparked the fire for the monk and ascetic John Cassian to begin his writings. However, it was in the sixth century that Pope Gregory revised Cassian’s list to contain: pride, lust, gluttony, greed, envy, sloth, and anger. This newly formed list was then known as the seven deadly, or cardinal, sins of Roman Catholic theology.

I decided to pursue this topic because of how close it is to me, coming from an extremely Catholic family. It is especially interesting since I do not practice religion on my own, while being a part of my religious family.

Interview

What does your work aim to say? 

My work has little to do with the world in any way other than being a method for my thoughts to escape the confinement of my brain. When I create things on my own time with no real use for said artifact, I would dare say that my work has nothing in particular to say. Meanings may be derived from the pieces it is true, and potentially there is a direct meaning for a piece, but I find that to be rare with my works. However, looking for a recurring idea, the concept of life and death repeatedly shows itself in my work. Some give the idea that life is precious, others deal with the knowledge that death is unavoidable. 

What is your usual artmaking process like? What are your preferred mediums?

The creative process is founded with two levels: firstly a macro level, which is comprised of the stages of the creative process, and secondly a micro level, where an explanation of the artistic fundamentals for the creative process is given. This is what I have learned. My process is simple: have an emotional trigger that corresponds to an idea layout. From there, I build the project first and foremostly what mediums I have available to me, though I do find myself leaning towards oil or water paint for the majority of my work. If I don’t go towards either of those, I rather enjoy doing electronic art: paintings, drawings or animations. 

What are your plans for the future? How do you see your work evolving?

My future plans are to continue my education to get my bachelor of education to thereby be an art teacher. My work evolving? To what I am not sure, building my collection of works is certain. Art surrounds life, all people in every location, without us being aware of it.  Since time is an illusion, art has existed as long as man has, which leads me to believe that it will continue to exist in one form or another after man is gone. Many people fail to realize how art impacts their daily life, as a teacher I will prove to my students just how it is that everyone uses art on a continual basis.