How Local Artists are “Staying
Creative” while Social Distancing

By Tristan Douville, Victoria Pride Contributing Writer

The past six weeks have been anything but routine. With stay-at-home orders in place, folks are beginning to develop new habits while in isolation. We’ve been encouraged to get creative, follow our passions, and find new hobbies. But what about those who are creative for a living? Are they finding this time to be a blessing or a curse?

Kristofer “Kris” Parley and Nathan “Nate” Davis are husbands and fellow artists who together form Staying Creative Studio, a workspace in the heart of Chinatown. Parley has been working in pen and ink and watercolours for over thirty years, while Davis is an artist of many mediums, including graffiti and murals. Not only is Staying Creative their personal studio, but they also teach art classes and offer drop-in times for at-risk community youth.

While most of Davis’s art classes and commissions have been put on hold during the pandemic, he explains that this time hasn’t been all for nothing. “I am still inspired to create but I’m definitely not getting as much done as I’d like,” explains Davis. “That said, I’m trying to make the best of it. For example, our free weekly drop-in sketch night, Sketchy Thursdays, is now being hosted on Zoom.” This event is a time for artists of all levels to come together to chat and create.

Parley, however, has found it tough to stay focused. “At first, I was excited to sit around in cozy pants and hooded sweatshirts and make art,” says Parley. “I got a lot of art done, but the monotony of the situation soon got to me, and my art-making suffered. I haven’t picked up a paint brush or pencil much in the last week.”

No matter their personal struggles, Davis and Parley seemed to be focused on how the crisis is affecting others. “Depending on how long this pandemic goes on for,” says Davis, “I’m worried that people will be without their outlets or not remember how therapeutic art can be for them. For myself, art is what keeps me sane and in a good place mentally. Having art as my outlet is necessary for me, and I know for many others out there as well.”

Parley explains that even though this will continue for a while, he’s optimistic going forward: “My only hope is that federal arts funding remains a priority. I hope that people will continue to support their favourite local artists and artisans.”

To check out some of Nate and Kris’s upcoming and ongoing projects, visit them at stayingcreativestudio.com. They can also be found on Instagram @nazo_sc_hnr and @bearagram, respectively. If you want to get involved in Sketchy Thursdays (currently being run on Zoom), that event also has an Instagram account: @sketchythursdays.

 

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