Island life provides inspiration for Kensington artist

By Ryan Ross

Seated at a table splattered with dried paint splotches, a Kensington artist takes a break from painting a Christmas scene on her gallery’s window. Coloured dots stain Anne Gallant’s sweatshirt’s rolled-up sleeves and she leans back in a chair, surrounded by hanging paintings.
The gallery is tucked away at the end of a string of businesses on one of the small town’s main streets. It is full of her work, the white walls covered with bright paintings and prints showing Island life in vivid colour.
Anne Gallant is a graduate of Mount Allison University but didn’t start working on her own as a full-time artist until a few years ago, she said.
“I didn’t think I could make a living.”
Gallant said before moving back to P.E.I. she spent time in Haiti where she helped teachers use artwork in the classroom.
The kids would read paragraphs then draw what they read on the chalkboard, she said.
Gallant said the time spent there is reflected in the work she does now.
“That was a huge influence on my work.”
And since she moved back to the Island, Gallant said she finds inspiration in P.E.I.’s colours and lights.
If an artist can capture them it is where they become successful, she said,
“It’s pretty special here.”
There is more of a market for Island works with people coming from away since the Confederation Bridge opened, she said.
“In the summer it’s crazy here.”
Gallant said she has probably sold about 400 paintings with about 30-35 sold in the summer.
And people want to buy originals now, she said.
“They won’t go back to that print at Wal-Mart.”
Commission work is part of her business too, she said.
Gallant said she was asked to do a mural for a couple in Nova Scotia after the woman bought a painting from her.
Once they approved her sketches, the owners gave her the keys to their house for the winter, she said.
Gallant said it took four months to finish the mural, which was painted to look like windows opened up to the bright scenery outside.
“That was an artist’s dream job.”
Gallant said she never thought she was better than anybody else and her work has improved since she moved back to the Island.
“I guess you just want to challenge yourself every time.”