Jake Joy Mulyk is a Calgary-based artist whose work is a close reflection of the upbeat vibrations and physical energy offered by the city in which she lives. Additionally, she hopes her art can start a dialogue among Calgarians to explore how much say they really have in how fast their city grows…
Homegrown in Calgary or transplanted from…
I was born and raised in Edmonton. I finished my degree at the University of Alberta and then went to study in Hawaii for a year. I had a studio at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu. From there I moved to Vancouver. I painted en plein air all over the downtown Vancouver streets. It was the beginning of my cityscape studies. Eventually I moved to Calgary to join the rest of my family. I have been slowly working on my second degree starting at Emily Carr and now at ACAD.
What is your creative process like?
I do a lot of sketching and working in different mediums to inform my painting process. Drawing is the main skeleton of my work and my ‘dancing line’ will manifest through woodburning, linocut, silkscreen and drawing with ink on wood canvas. My Big City Living Series includes sketching on site as well as a lot of photography. I visit a site a few times and make notes on colour, atmosphere, people flows and the general energy of the area. Then I paint and collage and apply final resin back in my studio.
How does Calgary inspire your art?
The upbeat vibrations and physical energy of Calgary inspires my cityscape work. My colours are bright and vivid and I include collaged photos taken on site in an area. I work mainly with pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods where life and energy can be seen and felt in the streets. I try to capture what I find unique in each of these neighbourhoods. Every day as I walk or bike the streets of Calgary, I stop and make notes of possible places to paint.
Any other muses we can know about?
My cityscapes do not read as an exact representation or physical replica of an area, rather a collage of colour, people, history, cultural and natural spaces. If you hang out in a neighbourhood and are around when I come by taking photos, you just might end up in a painting!
Do you take commissioned work?
Yes, I am working on a few commissions this summer. These are requests for certain areas of the city, but other than that I have full artistic control of the work.
Where is your go-to spot for a cup of Joe?
In Calgary it is often the Purple Perk, but another great place for a hang and a coffee is Colossi’s Coffee House in High River.
Can we see your artwork?
Yes, two places. In my home studio in SW Calgary – please send an email to book a visit – or at:
Art & Soul Studio Gallery, 120 – 6th Avenue SW, High River, Alberta.
Gallery Hours: Wednesday to Saturday: 12:00 noon – 5:00 pm
Sunday: 1:00 – 4:00 pm.
Beginning of June is our official grand opening!
GRAND OPENING SCHEDULE:
Artist Reception – Friday, June 7th
6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Saturday, June 8th: Artists in attendance, 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm, some artists painting
Sunday, June 9th: Artists in attendance, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
