Students, ages 10 to 19 were asked to create an original work of art expressing the theme of Forest: Breath of Life.
These are their stories.

Artists by work

Artists by name

Addyson K.
Rosalynn K.
Lennon L.
Connor L.
Aedyn M.
Lucy O.
Emily P.
Ryleigh P.
Caraj T.
Rose V.
Vasso V.
Dara de V.
Denver W.
Adelyn W.
Crystal W.

Sierra Club BC

Sustainabiliteens

Grassroots Orchestra

This piece makes me feel that there are different paths we can take even when there is only one that is clearly visible; you can go anywhere. The idea of painting feet was that it symbolizes guiding most of us through our every day. While the image of the surrounding forest was to show that you can be anywhere and just keep walking.

The ability to visually tell stories has always inspired me. I grew up with so many examples of visual storytelling, so to use the art form I was raised with to help spread awareness for the communities suffering during said fires, means more than I can express.

I really enjoy art because it makes me feel really relaxed and calm and it just lets me paint/draw what I feel inside. I love to sketch wolves and dragons and cats. I’ve been loving painting just as much lately. That’s why my project is going to be a wolf with a forest inside. I feel that my spirit animal is a wolf, I just love them.

When I do art it calms me. It washes away any feelings that I don’t want inside of me. My art work represents what nature means to me. Nature means to me a haven of some sort. Like when I am there it makes me feel like I can be myself and not have to be someone I’m not. I love my art work and hope to always!

I chose to do this piece because it shows how, even though many trees are logged or burned, there’s still beauty in things that have been changed. It also shows how many things we take for granted in this life and that we should appreciate the beauty of the forest while we still can.

Art really helps me when I am anxious, overall it calms me down. When I am angry, sad, overwhelmed, and depressed, that’s what art helps me with! My art represents peace and calm energy.

Time in the forest brings me peace. The clean air and beauty have the ability to fill me and ground me. No matter how crazy things get, I can always take a walk, breathe in the forest air, pray and find peace.

In the forests there is an entirely different world. Totally different than our sky scrapers, busy streets, giant factories, things that destroy the forest. I represented a creative world built on top of a piece of the forest

My art is the world overlooking the moon and the galaxy. It means to me that there is more to life than meets the eye. There is a whole universe inside a tree. Art making makes me feel calm and peaceful.

The reason I painted this was because I love the forest and I love art too. So I painted this to represent that. I’ve always loved art and the forest too so I was so happy when I got to paint it.

My Art is mushrooms in a trippy background. I worked really hard on it.

I like to draw and I thought that this would be fun so I did it. I drew a tree by a stream because this is supposed to be about trees and I also wanted to add the element of water. And for my other one I wanted to do mountains with trees at front. I always like the view of mountains so I added it.

In the background of my art work I decided to go with dark colours because it was not in the daytime. I like dark colours so I went with what I like. I am also a lake person and love nature so when I could not find or think of anything this image of a tree got into my head and that is how this piece of art was created!

Hi my name is Addyson and I am a grade 10 student. I created this art piece to represent Vancouver Island’s beautiful and seemingly endless forests. But that’s the catch. I love these forests and I want them to stick around so I can hike through them with children and grandchildren one day. As endless as they might be portrayed, it wouldn’t take much to change that. Our forests are not only a significant tribute to the Island’s beauty but also homes to many species of animals such as bears, deer, mountain lions, and many others. We love these forests and need to protect them.

My art lets me express myself in multiple shapes and forms. In my art, I like to capture everyday objects, animals, and nature scenes in a very colourful way with a variety of media.

My painting is a winter scene. Art is one of my favorite things. It means so much to me. My painting is set in the forest. I worked very hard and I hope you like it.

The idea of using spray paint as a medium for painting came to me last fall 2020 when I wanted to create something artistic while being outside where I love to be. I set up an easel and canvas outside under our carport, and I started to experiment with applying the paint in different ways, including making and using stencils. My later works incorporated the use of natural materials such as ferns and leaves to create a natural aesthetic.
My first attempts used only a few colors until I was able to source a wider variety of paints. I enjoy layering different colors, and I particularly like to work with bolder colors of red, white and black.
In this group of three paintings, I want to depict the fluid motion of energy and life through abiotic and biotic elements: from the sun, through forests and streams to the ocean.

Art making is a part of my life. I’ve been doing art my whole life and I’m really excited to share my art with you. To me this means peace.

Day and Night

Forest and rivers, the beautiful life
I seek out your calling day and night
Cry with the willows; sing with the birds
Hide all your worries; never be heard
Swing the vine
Don’t look behind
Drink from the lake
It’s not a mistake
Forest, river, life, trees and nature too,
these are the qualities of you.

So come on down to the stream
where we can share our dream
And here we shall stay till the end of the day
Day and night
I see you running through the trees
Day and night
you always say to me
Nothing’s ever going to change
Everything will stay the same
Butterflies are running wild
Wolves are crying to the mild.

— written and performed by Lucy O., Ryleigh P., Adelyn W.

Emily P.: My artwork is about a forest at night with stars shining everywhere and a nice big moon.

Caraj T.: I am proud of my artwork because I used to not be as good as I am now. I really like art and I do a lot of art. Art to me is really fun and cool. Whenever I do art I like to have a special meaning for my art so its unique in its own way. Art to me is one of the things I will do even if I feel sad.

My artwork represents the beauty of the mountains and forest. It’s a reminder of how beautiful our nature truly is. Art means a lot to me because I can express my self through it. I hope my artwork inspires you.

I made this piece it represents a time at night, a galaxy, and a time in the morning, a sunset. I am really positive with this piece of art because I spent a lot of time for it.

I chose to do this art piece because, as a child I’ve always loved nature, the forest and how beautiful it was, but I also like how diverse forests are. I love the trees and forests that are dark and mysterious or spooky, the ones that look very pretty and happy and the almost swampy looking trees. Although they’re all a little bit different in their own ways and may be ‘”weird looking” to others, they are all beautiful and amazing to admire.

I made this to show people, to slow down other people cutting forests because I want my kids in 20-ish years to grow up with what I had.

I made this tree out of dots to make it unique. It took a long time because the dots were tiny.

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