“Dare To Connect” with Donna Giraud – Contemporary Abstract Artist

It was 2014 when I first ‘connected’ with Donna Giraud. I will never forget it. I was attending the first ever ART! Vancouver and as I walked around admiring all the artists’ work on display I was immediately drawn into this one artists section. The artist was busy with many other guests, so I made a mental note to return later. Upon my return I ran into a family friend, and as we were talking I asked why he and his wife were at the show. To my complete surprise he said his daughter was showcasing her art and as it turned out, she was the artist that I had come back to meet and praise for her incredible work that I was so inspired by.

“LUA” – Connection word ‘LOVE’. Acrylic on Canvas – One of the 12 pieces created and sold for Donna Giraud – Contemporary Abstract Artist’s Solo Exhibition “Dare To Connect” – Photo Credit: @czuckermann

Four years later, I am still a huge fan of Donna Giraud, and was honoured when she sat down with me for an interview, giving me a LITTLE more insight into her life, how she became an artist and where she sees herself going as she continues to pursue her passions.

We had originally planned to conduct the interview at the art gallery where she works and showcases her art in Yaletown. However, on the day that I arrived unbeknownst to her, The Space had been rented out to film a movie. We simply adjusted on the fly and went to her apartment around the corner where a very special LITTLE guest named Wallis, Donna’s one-year old Malti-poo puppy, (aka the love monger) did his very best to keep our attention focused on him throughout the whole interview.

Donna was born and raised in North Vancouver, British Columbia. She attended Handsworth Secondary School, and after graduating, went onto Capilano College for a few years. While at college she played on the soccer team, winning a National Gold Medal.

She attended Langara College for the Nursing program, and after completion she started working at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. During her career she was appointed the position of Head Nurse of the Acute Medicine Department.

Donna Giraud during her Nursing Career – Photo Credit from Donna Giraud/Video Clip: Global TV News

As Donna began moving towards becoming an artist full-time, a part-time nursing position was created for her. On April 9th, 2018 Donna completed her nursing career and officially made the move to focus solely on her next career as a Contemporary Abstract Artist.

Throughout Donna’s whole life she had always been naturally creative. As a child and throughout her youth, she would draw and scrapbook even though she had never really thought about doing it as a profession.

In 2001, she recreated a painting an ex-boyfriend had admired in a restaurant, and it was that moment when Donna’s art career began.

Donna continued to paint sporadically over the next few years. Copying images from the Internet, that she found inspiring. In 2005, she decided to hold an Open House for friends and family to come, view and ideally purchase her paintings. She made $5000 that evening. The turning point for Donna, after holding this Open House, was that a friend brought a person whom Donna did not know, and he was so enthralled with her work that he purchased a piece of her artwork as well.

After the Open House, Donna took one art class and through her teacher, made some connections that enabled her to eventually attend the Interior Design Show Vancouver that led her to where she is now.

“TIENCE” – by Donna Giraud – Contemporary Abstract Artist – Photo Credit: @czuckermann

It was not until five or six years ago, however, that Donna had an epiphany or distinct moment when she recalled without a doubt that being an artist was her ‘calling’, and she knew that this was what she was meant to do with her life.

She was at one of the Interior Design Shows in Vancouver and a young man in his 20’s began weeping happy tears as he was brought to an emotional space or nostalgic memory as he admired one of Donna’s pieces of art. “That moment was quite poignant for me. I realized I have been given a gift. I can make people feel and to be able to evoke emotion in someone, I knew then that art was my calling.” ~ DG

Throughout my time of studying and then conducting interviews, I find it absolutely fascinating how many people are self-taught in their professional fields. What this proves to me is that if you have passion, drive, talent, a strong work ethic, and a belief in yourself you can and will achieve any goal that you set for yourself.

Donna is a self-taught artist. She openly admits that she is not well versed in the Art History world, and does feel that some people judge her for that. However, she is a huge supporter of local artists in Vancouver, and believes in the idea of supporting each other and the sharing of ideas for growth and connecting.

“JNAS” – by Donna Giraud – Contemporary Abstract Artist – Photo Credit: @czuckermann

Vancouver artist, Tanya Slingsby was a huge influence in the beginning of Donna’s career, as Donna always gravitated towards the abstract form and she loved Tanya’s style. “It was always about the way she made me feel, and I wanted to be able to do that.” ~ DG

I knew that Donna strongly believes in connecting with other artists and giving back to her community, so I asked her what she was doing to help build an “artistic community where no one is left behind, where secrets are shared and successes are celebrated” ~ DG.

She provides a mentoring program and art classes through her shared space at the art gallery, and simply lives her life with the belief that by being open to having authentic conversations and a positive attitude inspires people to also live the same way. For art truly does have the power to heal and transform, whether you are the artist or the admirer.

“Healing and transforming, that is the feeling you get when you stand in front of a piece of art and it just moves you.” ~ DG

Donna Giraud Travelling the World – Photo Credit: Paul Hertz

As for educating people about art, Donna succinctly said, “It does not have to match your couch. How does it make you feel? Take it home because it makes you feel something.” ~ DG

Donna is not only an artist; she is also a mentor and a coach. She offers a five-session art program over a period of 10 weeks. Donna believes that “you learn more about yourself, your skill and your craft when you can teach it” ~ DG. She says that if she is critiquing work, the process makes you more aware of what you are doing, and by saying it out loud you actually hone in on your own practice. “It also brings you back to your roots, allows you to see how far you have come, and to be thankful and full of gratitude for where you are now.” ~ DG

When I asked Donna what inspires and fuels her passion to paint, she said that people in her life and life in general inspire her. She loves to travel and has found that throughout her adventures travelling the world with her friends, her sister and especially her fiancé, she is continually inspired by other countries and the experiences that they have together while globetrotting. Donna’s work is also very west coast and Nature inspired. This reflects largely upon her upbringing along the beautiful coast of Vancouver and British Columbia.

After speaking to Donna for just a brief time, I was not surprised at her responses for her top three Bucket List goals. Donna wants to continue travelling the world with her fiancé and experiencing other cultures; she would love to have her own gallery, her own boutique space that was thriving without any concern of financial struggle; and she wants to continue giving back to society, now that nursing is out of her life, she will find another vehicle that she is passionate about in order to continue paying it forward.

I always find it interesting to ask my interview subjects who they would like to spend a day with, living or deceased, because it gives me a LITTLE bit of insight into who they find intriguing, and why they chose that person. Donna’s immediate response was Oprah Winfrey. She admires and respects all the good that she has done for so many around the world, and that she has created so many avenues for people to better connect and be vulnerable. She has helped people to open their minds, their hearts and to learn and experience life. She truly is fascinating and without a doubt one of the most influential people in the world.

“Dare to Connect” was Donna’s first solo art show and the concept behind this show was very personal and timely to both Donna and the world in which we are living in. She always knew that she wanted to involve some of the most influential people in her life in one of her shows, because they are often where a lot of her inspiration is drawn from.

The ‘connection’ aspect or theme worked perfectly because Donna believes that ‘Connection’ is one of the things that people are missing from their lives right now, and she wanted to challenge people to look at how they are ‘connecting’ in their life. “Whether it be how well they are connecting, or perhaps how they are not, and the ways in which they could possibly improve their connection with others.” ~ DG

Donna chose 12 people in her life and each painting expresses how they significantly impacted her and her growth as an artist, as a friend, as a person…

Solo Exhibition by Donna Giraud – Contemporary Abstract Artist – “Dare To Connect” – Photo Credit: @byron_cameraman

Attached to each painting there was a word and a write up explaining the significance of the word and who inspired the piece. The goal, aspiration for this show was simple. Donna hoped that each piece would encourage the audience to truly look deeper into how they are connecting with the people in their lives, with the hopes of inspiring people to reach out more to others, to disconnect from social media while in the presence of loved ones, to be present and in the moment, and to enjoy the experience as it is happening.

As you approached The Space: An Art Gallery in Yaletown, Vancouver, BC for Donna’s “Dare to Connect” show you were greeted by two attendants on a lighted red carpet. Upon entering the gallery photographer Charles Zuckermann immediately welcomed you with a warm hello and said guests received a complimentary photograph with an original Donna Giraud backdrop. There was an open wine bar and a DJ playing music at a decibel perfect for conversations. The gallery was packed with guests who mixed and mingled with each other as they admired and purchased Donna’s art.

Donna’s work has the ability to evoke emotional responses and make people feel a myriad of reactions when they look at her paintings. Perhaps it is because she captures the authenticity of humans and their relationships through the simplicity of words and stories that we can all relate to such as love, experience, awareness, encouragement, heartbreak, trust, loyalty, adventure, and friendship.

There is so much more to come from Donna Giraud. More gallery showings and her very first collaboration project with her gallery colleagues late summer 2018. She is extremely excited about this project as it will be a controversial, thought provoking, conversation starter, and Donna herself is intrigued as to how each artist will interpret and envision their perspective of the topic.

Donna will also be involved, for her ninth year, with the Interior Design Show Vancouver, during the last weekend of September. This organization she holds dear to her heart, as it is essentially where she started her career, finding her niche market with them, and establishing her presence within the interior design world.

As Donna continues to pursue painting as a full-time career, she realizes that if you follow your passions and pursue everything with an open and authentic heart, there truly is nothing that you cannot achieve. She is grateful and compassionate. She is determined and forthright. She is passionate and honest, and understands that being vulnerable, and open are not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength and tenacity.

Donna Giraud – Contemporary Abstract Artist – Photo Credit: @czuckermann

Donna’s paintings express all of these powerful words and I believe she sums herself and her work so succinctly in the following quote, “I am intentional when I paint; it just comes out of me. However, to be able to do something that just comes out of me so naturally, and have it affect people, it just blows my mind every time.” ~ DG

www.donnagiraudart.com

“Shannon Little – Writer/Interviewer”