Lucy Shaiken

The most notable object that has inspired my work is my bedroom window in Toronto. I was living there when the COVID-19 pandemic began, and this window was my portal to the rest of the world. It was beautiful, gigantic, and west-facing, and it features in most of my paintings during that time. The play of the evening light coming in, the view from it, and the window itself are all subjects. It had an incredible view of the sunset. Because of Lake Ontario, clouds move quickly and impressively through the city. I spent many hours watching the skies out of this window.

The most notable place that inspires my work is my apartment. I'm focused on how I feel when I am there and translating that onto canvas. The COVID-19 lockdowns created this focus out of necessity, but now I am obsessed with my environment and the intimacy of painting my own home. This focus has allowed me to appreciate where I'm at and brings calm and gratitude to my daily life.

Martha Eleen is an artist and teacher living in Toronto, Ontario. I took several of her classes during the COVID-19 lockdowns. She is a phenomenal artist who helped me understand so much about the human figure, autobiographical painting, and the history of women artists. Her influence led me to my explorations of mirrors, reflections, and shadow.