By Linda Viscardis
Chris Pierce, a 31-year-old artist from Huntsville, Ontario, is unwavering in his pursuit of art. Despite the challenges of writing and illustrating a children’s book, he remains undeterred.
“I’ve been drawn to art most of my life,” says Chris. “I’ve always had a fondness for drawing and painting, and I wanted to become a talented artist.”
With this deep-rooted passion for drawing and painting, he embarked on an artistic journey, influenced by his brother, Drew’s artistic pursuits.
After seeking advice from his parents and guidance from Community Living Huntsville’s support worker, Nancy Webber, Chris enrolled in Georgian College’s Community Integration through Co-operative Education or CICE Program.
Not content with this program alone, he pushed further, graduating from the College’s Art and Design Fundamentals Program, with accommodations for tests and assignments.
Under the mentorship of Diane and Gordon Finlayson, retired owners of Huntsville’s art studio, More Than Just Art, Chris learned to craft holiday greeting cards, which are now sold in local shops.
His creativity doesn’t stop there – he’s in the process of publishing his first children’s book, “Tina the Tooth Fairy,” which he both wrote and illustrated.
Looking ahead, Chris plans to continue selling his holiday cards and create more books. Despite feeling nervous, his determination remains unshaken.
“I’m going to keep selling my holiday greeting cards, and I’m going to write new books and do the illustrations for them, and then, finally, get them published,” says Chris. “I’m nervous, but I won’t let that stop me.”
Listen to Chris’s advice for others who want to pursue their passions:
“My advice: it will be difficult, whatever it is, but it will also be exciting. You just need to take one step at a time until you reach your goal.”
