Michelina Williamson

BEAUTY, JOY AND SERENITY

Michelina Williamson is a painter who began her art practice as an experimental filmmaker. Williamson graduated from the Ontario College of Art’s New Media program in 1991 and exhibited work in Toronto, Montreal and Germany. In 2010 she obtained a BFA from OCAD University and the following year took up painting.

“I began to feel a disconnect within the ever-increasing digital process of filmmaking. The tactility and immediacy of painting brings more meaning to my work with a physical and emotional connection.”

Emotion is at the essence of Williamson’s paintings. It is the foundation, the core from which her art emerges, develops and manifests into a physical form. She strives to capture the emotion held within places, revealing their beauty and inspiring feelings of joy and serenity.

She uses a minimalist approach to portray her subjects and infuses them with rich, bold colours. She works from sketches, photos and her imagination to create art that you can feel. Williamson’s painting process is a delicate balance between colour and composition choices and the intuitive expression of paint application.

Williamson was born and raised in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Her parents immigrated to Canada from Italy in 1950 in search of better life opportunities. They instilled in their three children a strong work ethic and the importance of achieving academic excellence in order to have a stable career. 

“My favourite subject in school was Art but, in my family, a career as an Artist was never viewed as a viable option. I also enjoyed the Sciences, especially Chemistry and decided to pursue a career as a Pharmacy Assistant. I left home to attend College in Toronto. I was excited to start a new chapter of my life in the big city.”

During her time in Toronto, Williamson became friends with some very creative thinking individuals. One of those friends was attending the prestigious Ontario College of Art. He offered to give Williamson a tour of the College.

“As soon as I stepped through the doors of OCA, I felt the creative energy and excitement of the place.  I knew then that I wanted to be a part of it, to experience the freedom to explore and create all things Art.”

Williamson worked as a Pharmacy Assistant during the day and took art classes at night. Her goal was to increase her artistic skills and build a portfolio of top-quality work. Her strong work ethic and passion paid off. Williamson’s years at OCA were ones of exploration, experimentation and growth. She expanded her knowledge of Art movements and Art Masters from the Renaissance through to the 20th Century. She also tried as many different mediums and techniques as she could in her studio classes. For example, she learned to weld and made a chair of steel and copper that she still has in her home today. She experimented with sound production and recorded an atmospheric sound track using found objects. She discovered the Film and Video department and fell in love. Literally. Her future husband, Paul Williamson, worked as a Re-recording sound engineer at a Post Production House in Toronto and performed the sound mix on her first experimental film.

“It was like a scene in a movie. I felt a chemistry between us, but I played it cool. After the mix Paul escorted me to the lobby. We lingered at the doors and then I left. I walked away into the sunshine thinking, oh well, I guess I was wrong about the chemistry. Suddenly I heard my name. I stopped, turned around and saw Paul running towards me. When he caught up to me, he asked if I’d like to get a coffee sometime. Smiling, I said yes. That was the beginning of a beautiful life together. The year I graduated from College we were married and soon after started our family.” 

As a stay at home Mom with two children, Williamson took advantage of the technological advances in video cameras and computer software for home use to continue making experimental films. When her children began school, she volunteered her time in the School’s Office, which, eventually led to a part-time position as an Elementary School Secretary. “I’ve always loved school and felt privileged to do my part in providing a positive and caring experience for the Students. I was contributing to the family income and my work schedule was such that I was home when my children where home.”

Williamson’s dream of becoming a full time Artist was ever present. When her children became more independent, she went back to her alma mater. In 2010 she graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. The next year she took up painting. As mentioned earlier, Williamson loved the immediacy and tactility of the medium. Painting provided the physical and emotional connection she longed for in her art practice.

“I wanted to explored colour, texture and movement to convey my emotions onto the canvas. Looking inward, I began my painting journey with abstract expressionism. I loved the sensation of pouring my feelings out onto the canvas. It was very therapeutic. As time went on, I felt myself drawn more and more to the outside world. It was time for me to acknowledge my strong ties to nature. I love exploring places near and far to find a scene that emotionally touches me and inspires me to paint.” Artists who have influenced her work include Georgia O’Keeffe, Carmen Herrera and Doris McCarthy. Williamson’s painting style developed as a natural progression through self-discovery and artistic practice.

Williamson’s paintings express emotions held within places, creating a connection for all who view her work. She invites you to witness the beauty and experience the feelings of joy and serenity her paintings will bring to your life.