Isabelle Kearl is a designer and illustrator, who recently completed her final year of her Bachelors of Visual Communication (Illustration) at AUArts. A natural storyteller, she combines her unique skillset to create work that is unified by playful colour palettes and imaginative concepts. Isabelle is an Applied Arts Award recipient who is eager to further explore Canada’s creative industries and influential communities.

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“I feel as though my art practice straddles art and design, with my love for both. I painted a lot in high school then focused on ink and monochromatic work and then shifted to design and illustration during my training as a designer. Now that I am done my degree, I plan on revisiting the mediums that were more familiar to me years ago.”

For #CHROMAontheRise, PARK’s latest collaboration with Southcentre Mall, Isabelle created Take You There, a dreamy pastel mural with pops of bright colours that communicates a particular moment of happiness the artist often feels in the summer. We are transported there through floating forms and blocks of colour that are elevated by the unique three-dimensional design of the space. Although Isabelle has created large works of art before, this project was special in that she had an entire room to work with.

“I had to figure out a way to connect the walls together which is something you don’t usually experience with a single wall or canvas. I knew I wanted to paint an ice cream cone but I did not want it to be the expected image of the sweet treat. With that I started playing around with the sprinkles and how I could utilize their placements to communicate a playful feeling. From there the concept came together and it was just the colour palette left to decide.”

We wanted to learn more about Isabelle’s CHROMA experience and how she’s staying inspired while in quarantine. Read our conversation below:

What did you learn from your CHROMA On The Rise experience? and how important are opportunities like this for artists?

I am so grateful I had the opportunity to be apart of Chroma On The Rise. It opened my eyes to the many avenues I could explore as well as proving to myself the value in the skills I have developed. These opportunities help artists and designers tremendously in showcasing their talent in a commercial environment.

Do you have any advice for emerging artists trying to develop their own unique style and pursue a professional career as a creative?

Be as original as you can and connect with the community of artists around you where you are able to support each other’s work.

How are you staying creative and inspired during COVID-19?

I am illustrating, cooking, and experimenting with makeup in order to keep the creative juices flowing during Covid-19. I think cooking and beauty are two ways people can be creative and productive without putting too much pressure on themselves.

Do you think COVID-19 will change the way people perceive art and artists? Or the way we consume and interact with art?

If such perceptions do change I hope they are for the best. While many of us are isolated at home, I expect people will realize how important experiencing art is. I believe there will be some very interesting work coming out of quarantine as a result of artists being in such strange circumstances.