Carla Maskall Biography
I am a West Coast artist grateful to be able to create and reside on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish people. I was born into a family of artists and encouraged to draw and paint from a very young age. I have lived in many places, but currently is most passionate about painting at Crescent Beach, Salt Spring Island and Steveston B.C.. I am hoping that my work portrays an underlying theme of environmental awareness and conservation as I wish to slow down the viewer to bring attention to the fragile beauty that surrounds us everyday that often gets taken for granted. I have studied art, my whole life, including Fine Art at Kwantlen College, private lessons and numerous workshops and have been a member of various artists groups and councils as well as sought out mentors. My current passion is being out in nature plein air painting and participate in several groups and competitions with this!
Recently I have achieved Active Member status at the Federation of Canadian Artists and participates in their shows as well as shows in the community settings. Over the years, I am grateful to have achieved several awards for my art and like to give back to the community by teaching seniors, which I have done for the past eight years.
I have a passion for ANYTHING creative and is excited about the new projects to come! I am very grateful to have the opportunity to paint a very large 550 square foot mural on the wall of the Sunflower Cafe, which I completed the summer of 2024. Online I have an active fan art page @2sistersfanart which has attracted the attention of many celebrities including a sale of fan art to Eugene and Daniel Levy for their Best selling book Best Wishes Warmest Regards the Story of Schitt’s Creek. I also sew costumes, taught at a seniors home for 9 years, often help with youth theatre (STYTCO) designing theatre props & set backdrops, hospital galas, as well as paints murals in the community. During the pandemic lockdown time, time off work was used to learn illustration on procreate and lead to the publication of "What the Seal Saw" with local author Sherry McMillian a project I am very proud of. Sherry can be found at @sherry_mcmillan_writes & the book at (www.whatthesealsaw.com). After this book I self published a very popular White Rock Colouring Book that can be found in many local stores. Since then, I now have 5 publications I have illustrated. I was the first place winner in a few gingerbread contests,as well as peoples choice, and donated $1750 of this prize money to a local men's shelter towards building a gazebo in my late nephew Dylan's memory, that is presently used as a safe inhalation site.
Recent Awards:
2023 November 1st Place, Paint The Train. An annual train painting competition by Arts Council of Surrey and FVHR.
2023 August Honourable Mention. Semiahmoo Arts Paint the Town. A plein air competition in White Rock
2023 February Honorable Mention, B.C. wide Portrait Artist of the Year Competition hosted by Langley Arts Council
2022 July Became a Heather’s Pick at Indigo for What the Seal Saw a popular children’s book I was Illustrator for.
2021 December 1st place and People's Choice in the Adult Open Category for my gingerbread structure titled "A Beach Walk“
at Surrey Central Shopping Mall.
2021 November 3rd place, Paint the Train Competition, Arts Council of Surrey and Langley and the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway
2020 June Honorarium and magazine feature Opus Art Supplies "Oh Canada! Virtual Art Tour:-Canadian Wildlife
2019 September Honourable Mention, Paint the Train Competition Arts Council of Surrey and the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway
2019 August. People’s Choice Award, Kilby's Historical Site Fifth annual Plein Air Festival
2019 April. Honourable Mention, Just Gates. Arts Council of Surrey
2018 July. Honourable Mention, Paint the Town. Semiahmoo Arts Society
2018 July People’s Choice Award, Paint the Town. Semiahmoo Arts Society
2018 August Honourable Mention, -Vinoscenti Vineyards Three Seasons Art Competition