Artists
With Prior's roots firmly planted in the Pacific Northwest, it's natural that our graphics are consistently influenced by the local surroundings and people who live here. Canadian themes, native art, natural Whistler landmarks, and contributions from local artists continue to be the inspiration behind the Prior graphics lineup.
Read on to find out more about the artists that have helped to create the 09 Prior lineup.
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Olivier Roy
Olivier moved from Montreal to Whistler in 1992 after getting a degree in fine art. Since then he has been pursuing the dual life of professional snowboarder and artist. He has been working in many different styles and mediums both classic and digital. His portfolio contains work for companies in the USA, Europe and Asia. Some highlights include: the notorious Boarder Bob comic strip for Snowboard Canada Magazine, a monthly strip for Snowboarder Magazine, an illustrated children's snowboard book and board graphics for Option and Prior Snowboards. Currently, Olivier resides in Squamish and works as an artist, freelance graphic designer and snowboard coach.
We asked Oli to paint the Black Tusk (on the left) since this is a famous natural landmark here in Whistler that can be seen from the peak of Whistler mountain as well as from the Prior factory!
You can view Olivier's Art on his website at:
www.olivierroy.ca.
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Josee St. Amour
Josee ventured to Whistler from Ottawa more than 12 years ago and now makes her home in Squamish where she runs a custom art/mural business – House of RTS. (RTS sounds like 'arts' if you pronounce it phonetically) A self taught painter-slash-designer, her artwork varies from urban graffiti to landscape and abstract to realism.. "With RTS I'll go into a house, talk to the people, feel their energy, capture their essence and find out the elements they love," she explains. "Then I'll come back later with a bunch of ideas." "Art" she adds, "is a definition of a journeyed soul – your eyes through my soul."
Josee's HRTS Foundation is also based on soul. Her first HRTS collection, Souldiers, is comprised of paintings and prints based on photographs of survivors from the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka. She donates the sales to Sri Lankan children in need.
Another HRTS Foundation project involves collecting surfboards – whether bruised, broken or donated – and fixing them up so she can give them to people living in developing countries. "Living soulfully is an art form in itself," she says. "I do it by concentrating on the ride instead of the destination."
www.joseestamour.com
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Clarence Steven Mills
Haida Name: Gah-ghin-skuss (Out of your own land)
Member of: the Eagle Clan, Skidegate
Crest: Split Raven, Grizzly Bear
A Haida native from Skidegate in the Queen Charlotte Islands, Clarence Mills is an established Haida artist known throughout the world. His works sell in museums, galleries and native art shops throughout Europe and North America.
He creates glass totems, engraved silver and gold jewelry, cedar and glass bowls, doors and limited edition prints, but Mills' claim to fame rests in his prowess as a carver. He was a featured artist at Expo 86 in Vancouver and Expo 88 in Brisbane, Australia where he carved a six meter totem pole that graced the entrance outside the Canadian Pavilion. In 1997, he was commissioned to carve a 4 meter high cedar totem for a native exhibit at the Louvre Museum in Paris
Mills has been given a gift from his ancestors. He endows his creations with a powerful energy, smooth flowing style and images that speak through his symbolic Haida figures. He strives for one achievement – to begin a process for many people who have never understood their connection to the spirits of the land and all its creatures.
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