Sylvie Peltier (aka Esspé)

www.SylviePeltier.com

Canadian painter Sylvie Peltier grew up in the province of Quebec. At the age of 13, she discovered a poster inviting her to “Learn English in Vancouver.” Amazed by the ocean and mountains depicted, she decided then that she would live in British Columbia as an adult.

After studying agricultural economics (McGill, Montreal) and environmental economics (Dalhousie, Halifax), she went on to study film and television (UBC, Vancouver). In 1996, she founded Red Letter Films, a television documentary production company which she still operates with her husband.  

With a lifelong passion for art and design, she began to post her drawings on social media and started painting classes in 2014. She participated in her first group and solo exhibitions in 2018. She also organized an art studio tour in her community in 2021 and 2022, the South Rock Art Tour.  

In 2023, she moved to Qualicum Beach, on Vancouver Island. It was there that she finally devoted herself to her life as an artist. She offers painting classes in her waterfront studio and welcomes the public by appointment.  

An active member of the Federation of Canadian Artists since 2021, she participates in local art events from Comox to Nanaimo. She is a member of local artists’ groups, with whom she regularly participates in exhibitions. She is also planning two solo exhibitions: one at the McMillan Arts Centre, in May 2025, and the other at The Old School House Arts Centre (TOSH), in January 2026.  

Esspé loves to explore imperfection and to mix styles.

She usually starts with a theme or canvas size, then follows a haphazard creative process. She uses a variety of techniques and materials, including her own photographs as inspiration to reinterpret her natural landscapes. She favors bright colors, such as pink, purple and blue. She sometimes starts with a black chalked background to create a stained-glass effect, or superimposes layers of transparent colors on abstract paintings.

Her works, designed to evoke positive emotions such as surprise and wonder, are also printed on clothing, stationery and home decor.

Sylvie Peltier has lived in British Columbia for over 30 years, and has been wielding her brush for the past 10 years under the artist name Esspé, the phonetic expression of the initials of her name. Her joyful, abstract works are inspired by the natural world around her.

          A Touch of Whimsey

I began my Artistic endeavors in 1981 at Camosun College in Victoria where I studied for 2 years. Learning Perspective, composition, life drawing, & watercolors. 

In 1985, I took courses with 2 very different artists. First studying with well known Victoria botanical watercolour artist Bryony Wynne-Jones. Next Allan Mark Cross, who was the opposite, very loose, mostly Landscapes and old houses.

After I took some time to explore what I learned. I practiced daily.

My husband and I moved to Parksville in 2006. I took acrylic painting with Devon Featherstone, and Elissa Anthony a landscape artist whose style I admired. 

A few years ago, I developed and co-ordinated the free art program for seniors “Aging Artfully” and “Seniors Art Program. I taught classes at both Stanford Village in Parksville and The Gardens in Qualicum Beach, where I taught students with a range of disabilities including, blind and stroke victims, even some with dementia. Soon I had seven places to teach.  Articles about the programs were featured in the PQB News. We had to close the programs when Covid began. Today a couple of programs are still running via the MAC.

I am currently a member of OCAC, DECOSMOS and TOSH.

Covid brought isolation and a lack of social interaction. I started a group of seven ladies, we painted challenges all via internet. These social interactions though not in person satisfied our net for human contact. We chose the name “The Other Group of Seven”. We each challenged each other to paint things we didn’t paint and timelines varied on how long we had to paint the challenge. Today the group still continues but one challenge monthly. 

I have participated via the MAC’s in Exquisite Corpse Event since its inception. These three- artist-one-painting are revealed at a Gala Reception and prizes awarded. What a fun event! I gained some attention the first year with my head. I developed a semi abstract style of my own. It is in this style that I have a solo show at The MAC in September. Titled “Women’s Faces of the World, Abstracted”. I also have a banner in Parksville with one of my faces which received much attention 

Though my passion is painting flowers now-a-days, I will paint or teach any subject and I can paint in many different styles such as impressionist or abstract, watercolours, acrylics and multimedia.

Currently taking a break from Tueday painters so I can travel for longer periods. Recently while I was on vacation in Rarotonga I was invited to teach there at Gallery Tavioni, which I am giving some consideration.

I came to art later in life!

I worked as a teacher-librarian and French Immersion teacher in SD69. I also reviewed books, and taught future teacher-librarians at UBC. When I retired I thought I would write a book. But no! I took an art course and I was hooked!

My paintings are inspired by colourful rambling gardens and lush landscapes. I paint mostly in acrylic, and add torn paper, yarn and other, often recycled, embellishments.

 Lately, I have been experimenting with sewing art quilt “paintings”.