Over the course of years, Elaine Despins’ professional international career in animation (directing, character design and animating) has been interspersed with periods of intense passion for and activity in drawing and painting. Since 2000, she has been committed to an independent and full time studio practice. Despins’ paintings has been shown across Canada and the US and her work can be found in private as well as public collections. She has received grants from both the Canada Council for the Arts and the international Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation grant in recognition for her work. Elaine Despins completed her European, Berlin based, master’s degree in fine arts and new media arts in the summer of 2010.
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Education
2013 PAFA Master Class, Vincent Desiderio, Philadelphia, PA_Painting
2013 Rochester Art Centre, Robert Liberace Rochester, NY_Painting
2013 Putney Painters Workshop, Quiang Huang, Putney, Vermont_Painting
2012 Fine Arts Work Center, Catherine Kehoe, Provincetown, Mass._Painting
2010 Transart Institute New Media, Danube University Krems, Austria MFA in New Media
2008 Printmaking Atelier Circulaire, J-P Sauvé, Montreal_Etching
2006 Drawn Home Workshop, Meriel Hoare, New-York_Mixed Media
2005 Steve Assael studio, New York/Montreal_Painting
2003 Stuart Shils Master Class, Vermont_Painting
2002 Burt Siverman’s Studios, New York_Painting
2002 Université du Québec, Thérèse St-Gelais, Montreal_Art history
2001 New York Studio School, Susanna Coffey, New York_Painting
2000 Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts, Irena Korosek, Mtl_Painting
1999 Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts, Peter Krausz, Mtl_Secco technique
1999 Visual Arts Center, John Drew Munro, Montreal_Encaustic
1998 Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts, Sophie Jodoin, Mtl_Mixed media
1987 Université du Québec, Monique Charbonneau, Montreal Relief Printmaking
1985 Université du Québec, Monique Charbonneau, Montreal_Relief Printmaking
1975-78 Sheridan College, Oakville, Ontario_Classical Animation
1974-75 Algonquin College, Ottawa, Ontario_Filmaking
Exhibitions
2019 “The Kingston Prize 2019”, Gananoque, ON, Fredericton NB, Drummondville, QC
2019 A Luminous Darkness, Galerie 2112, Montreal, QC
2019 Enduring Brilliance, Pastel Society of America (PSA), New York, NY
2018 Figure & Space, Galerie 2112, Montréal, QC, Canada.
2018 IV Spain International Pastel Biennial, Oviedo, Spain
2017 Enduring Brilliance, Pastel Society of America (PSA), New York, NY
2017 Pure Color, Online International Juried exhibition. Pastel Society of North Carolina
2016 Enduring Brilliance, Pastel Society of America (PSA), New York, NY
2016 The IAPS Twenty-Eighth Juried Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, Manhattan, NY
2016 Tribute to Mothers,, Connecticut Society of Portrait Artist (CSPA), GEC, CT
2016 Enduring Brilliance, Butler Institute of American Art, Giffuni Gallery, Youngstown, Ohio
2015 Les Pastellistes, Pastel Society of Eastern Canada (PSEC), Montreal
2015 Enduring Brilliance, Pastel Society of America (PSA), New York, NY
2014 PAC 2nd Online Members Juried Exhibition, Pastel Artists of Canada (PAC)
2014 Les Pastellistes, Pastel Society of Eastern Canada (PSEC), Montreal
2014 Renaissance Pastel, The Connecticut Pastel Society, CT
2013 Women Painting Women, Richard J Demato Fine Arts gallery, Sag Harbor, NY
2013 Women Painting Women, Townsend Atelier, Chattanooga, TN
2013 Homage to Suzanne St-Michel, Galerie Actart, Montreal
2012 Not a Festival, The Seascape Series, curated by Luis Malvacia, Coppenhagen
2011 Papiers 11, Contemporary Art Fair of Works of Paper, Montreal
2010 I Fall, I Flow, I Melt, Video Art Show, New York
2010 Crossing Boundaries, Leslie-Lohman Gallery, New York
2010 Pour l’art justement, B-312 Gallery, Montreal
2010 Images Festival, Toronto, Ontario
2010 Papiers 10, Contemporary Art Fair of Works of Paper, Montreal
2010 Trouvailles d’atelier, Dominique Bouffard Gallery, Montreal
2009 Rust Fest Digital Arts and New Media Festival, McDonough Museum of Art, Ohio
2009 Refresh, Museo de Arte de Ponce in Plaza las Americas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2009 Bluebanana International Video Contest, Landau, Germany
2009 Transart, Sideshow Gallery, Brooklyn, New York
2008 Bestiaire, Dominique Bouffard Gallery, Montreal
2008 The Virgin Mary Series, Edward Day Gallery, Toronto (Solo)
2008 DUO, Dominique Bouffard Gallery, Montreal
2008 Pour l’art justement, B-312 Gallery, Montreal
2007 The Sea Inside, Dominique Bouffard Gallery, Montreal (Solo)
2007 Benefit auction of the Écomusée du Fier monde, Montreal
2007 Société protectrice de l’Environnement Visuel des Villes inc, Public Art, Montreal
2007 Résister – Succomber, B-312 Gallery, Montreal
2007 Papier, Dominique Bouffard Gallery, Montreal
2006 Tableaux Divers, Dominique Bouffard Gallery, Montréal
2006 Selected Works, Loto-Québec Collection, Charlevoix Museum
2006 Art Gallery L’union-Vie, Cultural Center, Drummondville (Solo)
2006 1st Drawing Biennale, Mont-Saint-Hilaire Art Museum, Saint-Hilaire
2006 Pour l’art justement , B-312 Gallery, Montreal
2006 Galerie Verticale Art Contemporain, Laval (Solo)
2006 Edward Day Gallery, Toronto
2005 Centre Saint-Pierre, Montreal
2005 Loto Québec Gallery, Expo 2005 / Thomas More, Montreal
2005 St-Laurent + Hill Gallery, Ottawa (Solo)
2005 Galerie de l’association culturelle du Sud-Ouest, Montreal
2005 Lire l’image, B-312 Gallery, Montreal
2005 Edward Day Gallery, Toronto (Solo)
2005 Georges Laoun, Montreal
2004 Sandra Goldie Gallery, Montreal
2004 Les sans abris, Art en Majuscules, Montreal
2004 Sandra Goldie Gallery, Montreal
2004 Centre d’exposition des Gouverneurs de Sorel, Sorel (Solo)
2004 Visions Collectives, McClure Gallery, Westmount
2004 Loto Québec Gallery, Expo 2004 / Thomas More, Montreal
2004 Présence /Émergence, Maison de la Culture Frontenac, Montreal
2003 St-Laurent + Hill Gallery, Ottawa
2003 L’art et vous , Expo / Évènement DOXA, Montreal
2003 Sandra Goldie Gallery, Montreal
2002 International biennial of miniature art, Témiscamingue, QC
2002 Visions collectives, McClure Gallery, Westmount
2001 Sandra Goldie Gallery, Montreal
1996 / 1997 Oeuvres Vives Gallery, Montreal
Awards/Grants
2019 The Kingston Prize, Canada’s Portrait Competition, Honorable Mention Award
2019 Enduring Brilliance, The Pastel Society of America (PSA), NY. Lila Teich Gold Award
2018 Vermont Studio Centre Residency, Johnson, VT. Merit Grant
2017 Enduring Brilliance, The Pastel Society of America (PSA), NY. Rembrandt Material Award
2017 Pure Color, Online International Juried Exhibition. Third Prize
2016 Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec (CALQ). Travel grant
2016 The IAPS Twenty-Eighth Juried Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, NY. First Prize (Prix du Pastel Award)
2015 The Pastel Society of Eastern Canada (PSEC). First Prize (Grand Prix Horace Champagne)
2015 The Pastel Society of America (PSA). The Jack Richeson & Co Silver Award
2014 The Pastel Society of Eastern Canada (PSEC). Third Prize
2014 The Pastel Artists of Canada (PAC). Third Prize
2014 The Connecticut Pastel Society. CPS Membership Award
2008 The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation. Grant / Painting
2004 Canada Council for the Arts. Grant / Painting
1995 Canada Council for the Arts, Grant / Research – Creation (Painting)
1985 Cultural Affairs Grant. Relief Printmaking
1978 Chicago International Film Festival. Second Prize / Animated film / Direction
1978 Toronto Animation Award. Award of Excellence
Public Collections
Senvest Collection of New Canadian Art
Loto-Québec Art Collection
Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec Art Collection
Collection Desjardins Art Collection
Professional experience
2017 FigureWorks 2017, Ottawa Ontario. Juror
2016 The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), Philadelphia, PA. Artist Talk & Visiting Artist
2017 Cégep Régional de Lanaudière, Joliette. Art Teacher
2016 Town of Mount-Royal Recreational Centre, Town of Mount-Royal. Art Teacher
2015-19 Visual Art Centre, Westmount. Art Teacher
2015-17 Dawson College, Montreal. Art teacher
2015 Centre Culturel Georges-Vanier, Montreal. Art Teacher
2011-19 Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal. Art Teacher
2013 Montreal Universtity, Montreal. Art Teacher
2012-13 Griffintown Art School, Montreal, Art Teacher
2011 Janro technologies, Montreal. Artworks produced using Sandde technology
2005-2007 Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts, Montreal. Art Teacher (Mixed Media)
2005 Radio-Canada Network – Providence Commissioned artwork for TV series
2003 Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts, Montreal. Substitute art teacher
2002 Théâtre du Nouveau Monde- La nuit des rois Drawing workshop for actors
1998-2000 IMAX Sandde Animation, Montreal. Co-Director / Story development Cyberworld 3D, IMAX feature. Montreal. Character Design / Animation
1997 Celluloid Studio, Denver, Colorado. Character Design
1997 CinéGroup Animation studio, Montreal. Artistic Direction / Storyboard Sinbad Feature Character development
1996 IMAX Sandde Animation, Montreal. Artistic Direction / Storyboard
1996 M.T.V. Network, New York. Character Design
1996 Cinar, Montreal. Character Design
1996 Ink Tank, New York. Storyboard
1995 Canada Council for the Arts Grant. Painting
1994 CinéGroup Animation studio, Montreal Posing
1993 Pascal Blais Productions, Montreal. Character Design / Storyboard
1992 Dawson College, Wesmount. Life drawing teacher
1992 CinéGroup Animation studio, Montreal. Character Design
1992 Les Productions Claude Savoie, Hull. Direction /Animation
1991 CinéGroup Animation studio, Montreal. Animation Supervisor
1989-90 Graff Gallery, Montreal Woodcut production
1988 Pascal Blais Productions, Montreal. Animation
1987 Contemporary Art Museum, Montreal. Visuals for Dulcinée Langfelder
1984-86 National Film Board, Montreal. Animation / Scratch on film technique
1983 Les Éditions Héritage, Montreal. Illustration
1980-82 Pils Film, Garche. France Animation
1978-79 Hanna Barbera Prod. Hollywood, California. Animation
Bibliography
KOZINSKA, Dorota, A Luminous Darkness, La Vie des Arts, October 15, 2019. http://viedesarts.com/article1395-A-Luminous-Darkness
Women Painting Women, Modern Painter, September 2013, page 47.
BELSITO, Rochelle, (R)evolution, American Art Collector, November 2013, page 53 to 57.
ESCALMEL, François, Elaine Despins — The Sea Inside, Artension, Expos à voir, no 38, Nov- Dec 2007, page 85.
DENÉE, Michel, Du royaume des ombres à l’éclaircie du visage , La Vie des Arts, Art Actualité, no 208, Automne 2007, pages 45, 46 et 47.
KOZINSKA, Dorota, The Sea Inside, La Vie des Arts, English report, no 208, Automne 2007, page 107.
SÉVIGNY, P. A., ELAINE DESPINS:THE SEA INSIDE, The Suburban, Arts …Etcetera, October 17th 2007, page 23.
DEROUIN, Hella. Les oeuvres d’Elaine Despins exposées à la galerie d’art l’Union-Vie, L’express, Wednesday, October 25th 2006, page 13.
BELU, Françoise. La fin et le moyen / Biennale du dessin, La Vie des Arts. Art et Actualité, no 204, Fall 2006, pages 58, 59, 60 & 61.
LAVOIE, Brigitte. 22 oeuvres choisies / Collection Loto-Québec au Musée de Charlevoix, L’hebdo Charlevoisien. September 23rd 2006.
BRAULT, Andréanne. Redonner au dessin ses lettres de noblesse, L’oeil Régional. June 24th 2006.
MAHRADY, Saïd. Les liens naturels entre l’écrit et les arts visuels, Les deux Versants. August 18th 2006.
GESSELL, Paul. New ways to look, The Ottawa Citizen, Thursday, Sept 1st 2005, page E4.
GESSELL, Paul. Critic’s picks / Fine Arts The Ottawa Citizen, The Citizen’s Weekly Entertainment, Canada.com, Saturday, August 27th 2005.
VAUGHAN, RM. The Big Picture/ Beyond the Veil of Sleep / Unnerving Works Mine the Unconscious, The National Post, Vol.7, No123. Toronto Edition TO8 / Saturday, March 19th, 2005.
KOZINSKA, Dorota. Elaine Despins : Présence / Émergence, Vie des Arts, English report, no 196, Fall 2004, page 91.
LEHMANN, Henry. Top Solo Show in Town, The Gazette, Saturday, May 1st 2004. Arts & Life, page W2 ARTS.
TREMBLAY, Pascale. La vue: Sens superficiel, Écriture d’Art, UQAM. Volume 3, 2004. pp. 20-22.
Radio / Television
• Radio-Canada, Toronto. Y a pas deux matins pareils. Interview with Marjorie Murphy March 12, 2008.
• Radio-Canada, Toronto. Les arts et les autres. Interview with Line Boily March 10, 2008.
• Radio-Canada, Première chaîne. Program: Désautels. Cultural reporter: Marie Christine Trottier. October 10th 2007.
• Télé-Québec. Émission Pulsart, October 17th and 22nd, 2006.
• CBC Radio Toronto. Interview with Annie-Claire Fournier, March 22nd, 2005.