“Art isn’t just a career or something to do in my spare time; it’s how I experience the world.”
It's the sentiment felt by the new generation of artists in Muskoka. And it's shared by the subject of this installment of Art Journeys: Brynn Kirbyson, a local artist from the Muskoka Lakes region.
Kirbyson sees art in every aspect of her life. From noticing the shadows to the mix of colours in our world. Her mind is constantly pointing out the little things we tend to walk past and miss as humans.
“Art is incredibly important in today’s world because it gives us a way to slow down, connect, and see things from different perspectives. We live in a world where we’re constantly surrounded by information and technology, and I think art allows us to step away from that and really observe, feel, and think.”
Though she has spent years learning and practising a variety of media in her art role, Kirbyson finds she always returns to one in particular.
“I always come back to painting. I would definitely consider myself a painter at heart. I have a large body of work in acrylic painting, and I’m particularly drawn to adding texture and creating pieces that have a three-dimensional quality. I love experimenting within two-dimensional work by incorporating mixed media, drawing materials, and found objects onto canvas or wood panels. More recently, my practice has been going through a bit of a transition. I’ve really fallen in love with oil painting and have been gradually replacing my acrylics with oils. I’ve also been drawing more with oil pastels, so right now I’m really enjoying exploring the possibilities of oil as a medium. But no matter what, I always go back to painting,” Kirbyson stated.
When Kirbyson is not creating masterpieces, she can be found doing everything possible to showcase her abilities. Whether it’s through her work with Muskoka Arts & Crafts as a member of our staff or mentoring future artists, she finds creative outlets in every aspect of her life.
“I’m surrounded by art in the gallery and teach art programming. Outside of that, I teach my own private art lessons, spend time working in my studio, read art literature, participate in art markets, and even do things like face painting. I like to joke that I’m an ‘art Barbie’. I have a lot of different jobs and wear a lot of different hats, but they’re all within the arts.”
As an educator, Kirbyson is constantly advocating for access to arts education and its importance in rural communities. This has been the pattern across this series when speaking with teachers and students.
“As an art educator, I really see the value in giving people a space where they can be creative without necessarily worrying about being ‘good’ at art. It can build confidence, curiosity, and a sense of belonging. To me, art is important because it reminds us that there isn’t always one right way to see or experience something. It encourages us to be curious, to ask questions, and to look at the world a little differently, and I think we really need that today.”
Growing up in Muskoka, where my family has lived for generations, has its unique connections when looking into the landscape of the place that we call home. Kirbyson believes that it has affected the way she sees the world in a very unconventional way and she sees Muskoka as a unique place for artists to create.
“I think what makes Muskoka unique for artists is that there’s such a strong artistic history and identity here, but at the same time, there’s room for so many different kinds of artists and creative practices. There’s obviously a very recognizable Muskoka aesthetic- the landscapes, lakes, rocks, forests, and that tradition of landscape painting but I think what’s really exciting is seeing artists move beyond that and find their own voices. Growing up here, I was very aware of that traditional style, and in some ways it actually made me want to explore something different. I think that push and pull creates an interesting environment for artists. There’s also so much natural beauty and inspiration around you.”
“After asking the question ‘Why does art matter?’ to so many times it’s interesting to see how many people share the same idea across mediums. Kirbyson’s idea of why falls under a very similar reason as those who came before, with, of course, a little bit of her own charm and flair.
“Art Matters to me because I honestly can’t separate art from my everyday life. I’m an artist, an art educator, and someone who is constantly thinking about creativity, and I think I’ve always been that way. For me, art is a way of communicating and processing the world. I’m a very sensitive and emotional person, and art gives me a way to express things that I might not always know how to put into words. I’ve seen it build confidence, create friendships, give people a creative outlet, and make people feel like they belong. As an artist, I love the freedom of being able to experiment and find my own voice. It allows us to express, question, remember, connect, and imagine. It preserves where we’ve come from, but it also gives us the ability to imagine where we could go. And honestly, I can’t imagine my life without it. Art isn’t just a career or something to do in my spare time; it’s how I experience the world. It’s where I belong.”
After speaking with Kirbyson, I can safely say life looks a lot more colourful. I took what she said to heart and started noticing the little shifts in colour and shadows that fill our world. The simple shifts in light or movement in our bodies fit like puzzle pieces into our world. The puzzle pieces that we tend to be missing when we don’t look under the table that is.