Years ago I found a book called “Actors as Artists” by Jim McMullan & Dick Gautier, and gave it to my father who’s a painter. Filled with well-known actors who also paint, I thought the gift appropriate coming from his “actor-daughter”. The book revealed exciting artistic layers of those actors.

A similar opportunity presents itself with Art By Actors, an exhibition/auction at The Stanley Theatre by the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance for World Theatre Day. It is part of the larger Stanley Art Auction.

Since I always loved drawing and painting, it seemed a natural choice for me to interview some of the actors who donated their work, for the World Theatre Day blog.

Cailin Stadnyk, a Vancouver actor who is currently in The Love List at The Stanley Theatre, was instantly humble in her response, denying she was a painter and had just taken on the project for fun. She didn’t feel she should be included here. I pressed further and she conceded.

TJ: “How did you decide on your subject matter, Cailin?”
CS: “I actually just “saw” it in my head.  Our theme was supposed to be “what theatre means to us” and because I’m such a “words” person that’s all I saw.  I wanted to use the words that came to mind but I wanted to do it in a more interesting way than just painting those words on the canvass.  I picked the green because green is my favourite colour. I respond to green so I knew I had to use it as my base colour.

TJ: “What were you feeling as you did the piece and how do you compare it to acting?”
CS: “What I was feeling at first was fear. I thought…”oh god, why did I agree to do this. I’m going to be so bad.” But then I really started to enjoy the process and was quite proud of the end result.  I would say that’s ALOT like the acting process.  Funny enough, that’s pretty much exactly what I go through during a contract!!”

TJ: “Do you have a favourite artist?”
CS: “I do have a favourite painter… John William Waterhouse. His pieces are so romantic.”

Allan Gray, veteran actor of the Shaw and Stratford Festivals donated a drawing. Gray was humble in his response but I sensed a strong sense of peace regarding his artistic work.

TJ: “How did you become a painter/artist?”
AG: “I was always drawing and painting as a child – my dad was an artist of sorts – and I started taking classes in high school, then continued in University – as a minor subject.  I went to Europe on a drawing tour with my art instructor at one point.”

TJ: “How do you compare acting to painting/drawing?”
AG: “Drawing is like a selfless meditation – acting is anxiety, ego and stress.”

TJ: “What is your preferred subject matter and medium?”
AG: “I work solely with pencil on rough paper or canvas.  My colour- blindness made working in oils or pastels rather problematic.  I do portraits and life-studies.”

TJ: “Who are your favourite painters, and mentor?”
AG: “My favourite painters are Gustave Caillebotte, Childe Hassam, Edward Hopper, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec,Winslow Homer and Auguste Renoir. My mentor was a terrific artist and teacher, Holly Middleton.

Renowned Canadian actor/director Gillian Barber, whose production of Footloose is currently running at Capilano U, has acted in over 50 plays and musicals across Canada. “A first-time artist, she started this project thinking about budget cuts and show cancellations, but got caught up in the joy of what theatre really is – a jumble of creative, colourful people, all thrown together to produce a piece of work.”

TJ: “What made you a painter?”
GB: “I really don’t paint except for my walls, but I was feeling passionate about funding cuts and wanted to paint something to pour my angst into.”

TJ: “How would you compare painting to acting?”
GB: “Painting is like the 17th time you have read the script to glean sub-textual layers – each one is a different colour, and the paint gets thicker and thicker….and doesn’t dry in time….just like it shouldn’t do on stage.

TJ: “What’s your preferred subject matter and medium?”
GB: “Abstract, oil, mixed medium…”

TJ: “Who’s your favourite painter?”
GB: “My favourite painter?  Monet…love what his work makes me feel.”

Angela Brown, who is performing at the GVPTA World Theatre Day event March 28 at the WISE HALL, her original piece called Upaya, has been involved with drawing & painting for many years.

TJ: “How did you get into painting?”
AB: “I’ve always loved to draw. When I was in elementary school, I was the one who always had my work up on the wall. So I figured I must be an artist.”

TJ: “ How would you compare painting to acting?”
AB: “Painting and acting for me are all about being in the moment – movement of a thought, a gesture or a splash of colour. It all comes from the same place.”

TJ: “What’s your preferred subject matter and medium?”
AB: “Usually, it’s the human form but in an abstract sense…a leap for joy, the feel of an embrace. I like water colour because it’ s full of surprises.”

TJ: “Who is your favourite painter or mentor?”
AB: “ Van Gogh and Micki Maunsell.”

Thank you for letting us all into your artistic stories, and, also, thank you to all the artists/actors who contributed to the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance “Art by Actors” exhibit. Vive Le Théâtre et Vive Les Arts!

Trilby Jeeves is an actor, writer, acting coach. She also teaches Buffoonery Acting Workshops, and is passionate about social media.

WEBSITE: http://www.buffooneryworkshops.com
TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/tjbuffoonery
BLOG: http://www.trilbyjeeves.com