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Tofino artist creates colouring pages to splash creativity into self-isolation

Lizzie Snow is helping self-isolators battle the doldrums of social distancing.
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Contemporary visual artist Lizzie Snow has transformed three artworks into colouring pages to splash some creativity into self-isolation routines. (Paul Levy photo)

A Tofino artist is helping self-isolators battle the doldrums of social distancing by splashing some colour into their curve-flattening routines.

Lizzie Snow is a 24 year old contemporary visual artist who creates under the name ‘fortyonehundred’ and has earned over 100,000 followers on social media along with an impressive resume that includes internationally commissioned murals as well as collaborations with Lululemon, Converse, Peugeot and Roy Henry Vickers.

In an email to the Westerly News as part of Black Press Media’s #WereInThisTogether campaign, Snow explained that she recently transformed three of her artworks into downloadable colouring pages in an effort to “spread joy, calmness and creativity,” during the world’s unprecedented coronavirus pandemic experience.

“When the COVID-19 news was breaking, I turned to my art to feel grounded and calm. I wanted to share this feeling and experience with others, so I created these colouring pages of my artwork. I know it’s not a lot, but it was just a little something that I felt that I could offer,” she wrote. “It was important to me to make the pages free so that money wasn’t a boundary. The colouring pages are an opportunity for people to get away from their screens, to relax their nervous system and engage their mind in creativity.”

The three artworks can be downloaded for free from Snow’s website, www.fortyonehundred.ca.

“One of the artworks I drew was about coronavirus itself,” Snow explained. “Even though it’s a terrible virus, the form itself is quite beautiful—circular, intricate, fascinating. I then decided on another full-page design and a contemporary exploration of the mandala.”

She said the reception has been “incredible” so far.

“There have been hundreds and hundreds of downloads from all across the world. It’s been delightful to see everyone’s different creative outcomes and I’m pleased that they are bringing a moment of peace in this situation,” she wrote.

Snow has lived in Tofino for the past two years after moving to the community from New Zealand with her dog George and she touted the West Coast as an “incredibly inspiring” landscape to create in.

“Tofino has the perfect balance—a small but spirited community immersed in infinite breathtaking nature, amazing restaurants, interesting and ambitious people, all while being—relatively—accessible to the cities and airport. It’s a very special place and I am grateful to be here,” she wrote.

“As my artwork is inspired by fractals, our daily beach and forest adventures have me returning to my studio overflowing with ideas. Tofino is supportive as many people are creative and entrepreneurial.”

She encourages everyone to stay safe and grounded as the world works to flatten the curve of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Sit, relax, flow, zone out, calm, pause, feel centered. Practice mindfulness in this time of uncertainty. We will get through this together,” she wrote, adding, “A huge thank you to all of the essential workers out there. Thank you for everyone’s part in keeping everyone safe. We all appreciate you.”



andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

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Andrew Bailey

About the Author: Andrew Bailey

I arrived at the Westerly News as a reporter and photographer in January 2012.
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