The Origin of Canvas Candy and Design I came out of the womb with a drawing pencil in my hand and a Matisse-like rendering of myself and my twin in our prior cozy abode. I was given every art award a child could receive until the end of High School. I was encouraged and surrounded by artists and art-lovers from birth and selected to attend an elite Arts Secondary School at age twelve. In cliche "torture-myself and suffer" artist style, I decided not to go. In my early teens I was heavily into Realism and later started appreciating and exploring more adventurous, less structured styles while I studied Literature and teaching in University. As I taught English and Science in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. and then English locally in a private school in Toronto, I found much inspiration in the diversity of people and worldviews I was exposed to. I continued to admire and create art as I became an Executive Recruiter diving head-on into sales and business; which to my surprise, I also loved. Corporate Sales at Commercial Art School was also key in allowing me to provide opportunities to others and grow my artistic eye. I was compelled to study Graphic Design as I was seduced by the sleek , contemporary designs and illustrations I saw in media everywhere. I was elated and impressed at how mellifluously art, communication and technology can be married. It was such an epiphany for me to fully realize how invaluable and diverse computers and technology are for creating art and visual communication. True to my creative and intrepid ways, I took a leap and became a corporate refugee and entrepreneur from 2006 to 2009 with a successful, boutique dog walking business that I loved. I was able to use my art and business acumen to create a very specific brand and business exactly as I'd envisioned it. I had a very positive response. After receiving many complements and requests for my art and design skills, largely based on my work for City Dogs On the Go, Canvas Candy and Design was established in 2009. I've done designs for T-shirts, business cards, logos and landscape and pet-portrait paintings; all of which I've enjoyed very much. Having wrapped things up with dogwalking, I took a course in entrepreneurship at Ryerson University in 2009. My drive to create and learn new things in fresh ways was infused yet again as I learned much more about business and technology. My avid enthusiasm in the potential of all things web and digital absorbs me now and my passion for fine art and design remains steadfast. Ayesha Andrea C. Esteves |
