A Personal Journey Through Art and Connection | Lily Swain

Growing up in an artistic home, I was surrounded by the language of creativity from an early age. My mother Chandler Swain, a prolific artist herself, always nurtured and encouraged my own artistic path. I sat in on her drawing and pottery classes as a small child and was given lessons from her friends and colleagues.

Before moving to Vancouver to attend Emily Carr University of Art and Design in 2001, I took painting lessons with Ottawa’s renowned Bhat Boy (a member of The Ten Collective) and Erin Robertson. These painters and many other Ottawa area artists have influenced and inspired my art practice over the years.

This community of artists I grew up admiring, encouraged and supported each other. They created their own opportunities by starting group art shows like The New Art Festival and 260 Fingers which are still running, stronger than ever.

Erin Robertson is an artist with unmatched style and works expertly in a variety of media which includes, and not limited to, painting, sculpture and ceramics. What I love most about Erin’s art is her ability to move between mediums while maintaining a strong, distinct voice. Erin’s work captures something universally human—joy, vulnerability, humor, and strength. Her style can shift from whimsical and funny to fluid and hauntingly beautiful.

I attended the 260 Fingers ceramics show in Ottawa this past November, and I was taken with Erin's new collection. Her skill, finesse and humor come together creating thought provoking, magical work. I was immediately drawn to one piece in particular, which was the bust of a woman with a red canoe on her head. To me the canoe symbolized the weight she carried—both the trials and triumphs. To me, the canoe was not just an object; it was a crown, a vessel for all of life’s lessons, hardships, and victories. I thought, "That’s me!".  Art is not just a reflection of the artist’s vision, but also a mirror of the viewer’s own experience.

I am happy to report that I am now the proud owner of Lady with the Red Canoe. I am so fortunate to have been surrounded by so many incredible artists throughout my life, and to have a piece of Erin Robertson’s work now part of my own collection. It’s not just a sculpture I own—it’s a piece of a much larger story, one that’s still unfolding. And for that, I will always be grateful. Lily Swain