While artists are sometimes stereotyped as calm, steady souls, others are looking for a little more excitement — some even yearn for battle.
Sheena McCorquodale is one such artist. She’s Vancouver Island’s 2018 Art Battle champion and represented the Island at the Art Battle Canadian National Championship that took place in Toronto on July 26th.
Ready to compete once again, McCorquodale will be back for an Art Battle in Qualicum Bay (where she lives) scheduled for Sept. 15 where she’ll be taking on other artists from the area.
Art Battle is an event that pits six artists against each other at once — they are each given a canvas and acrylic paints to use, and have 20 minutes to finish a painting as a crowd mills about around them to watch.
After the 20 minutes, audience members choose their favourite paintings. Another round of six goes on, and then the top two artists from each round go to the final round, and the crowd votes in the winner of the event.
“It’s so much fun. I’ve been describing it as like a cage match for artists,” said McCorquodale of the competition. “It really is just raw adrenaline, and a lot of fun for the people watching.”
Around since 2009, Art Battle has held hundreds of events in Canada. There’s a bit of a buzz about it between artists, said McCorquodale, who said she was contacted by Art Battle and invited to take part. In just a couple months, McCorquodale had gone from competing at a Cumberland event to moving on to the regionals in Victoria and then the national championship.
While some will no doubt question the need to pit artists against each other, McCorquodale said she really enjoys the format, and that competing is actually a way to meet and strike up friendships with other artists.
“I love it,” she said. “I’m a fan of spontaneous-type painting. It has actually helped me in my regular painting, because you only have 20 minutes to complete your painting… and the other thing is you can’t use any reference. So it’s straight out of your head, 20 minutes while everybody is bumping into you and yelling.”
Of her first time taking part, she called it “flat-out fun.”
“You don’t know what the other artists are painting, because there’s no subject matter or anything, you can just paint whatever you want. There’s a big count down and the whole crowd counts down with it and you throw the paints on there, and with a 20 minute painting you really don’t have room to go back and do any corrections.
“You certainly can’t erase or do any of that kind of thing, so it’s just raw painting, and it’s really interesting to see what comes out of it.”
Susanne Grundisom is another Vancouver Islander who’s been taken by the event. But she’s not an artist herself — she’s an organizer, and is now the producer of Art Battle on the north Island (which ranges from Duncan to the northernmost tip of the Island). She’s the one behind this upcoming Qualicum Bay event, as well as Art Battles coming up in Campbell River, Comox Valley, Nanaimo and possibly more.
“I fell in love with the event,” she said after her first viewing. “I’m a competitive person, so anything to do with competition, I’m completely into.”
While the event attracts a varied crowd, Grundisom said she was particularly excited by the amount of under 35-year-olds attending. When it comes to participants, Grundisom said there’s a good mix and young and veteran painters taking part. “We are seeing relationships developing within the community we are building,” she said.
“What is exciting is the fact we can see mentorship happening, the sharing of ideas and resources, people who might never have met having fun in a great supportive environment.”
Grundisom said she’s excited to bring more Art Battles to the Island, saying, “This is typically done in major centres, but I believe that we have the talent on the north Island to produce a winner that can compete against all of them.”
The upcoming battle in Qualicum Bay is one such effort. Doors open at 6 p.m. at the Lighthouse Community Centre (240 Lions Way). Twelve artists are scheduled to take part, though there may still be room to fill some of those spots. To do so, go to artbattle.com/events/ab706-qualicum-beach-september-15-2018/. The event is free for participating artists, and paintings done at the event are available for sale at the event, with proceeds going to the artist and Art Battle.
Tickets to see the event are $15 for Early Bird pricing (online only), $20 for general admission and $15 for students and seniors with ID.
For more info on the event, go to www.facebook.com/events/664472797250304/ and for more info on Art Battle in Canada, go to artbattle.com/ca/.