Local Teen Artist Transforms Peace River ART HUB's 'Sloane's Room' with Whimsical Mural
A vibrant, fantastical mural, the product of over 200 hours of dedication, now graces the walls of Sloane's Room at the Peace River ART HUB. The artist behind the massive undertaking is Destinee Sideroff, a Grade 11 student at Peace Regional Outreach Campus, whose work marks her first official venture as a professional artist.
The opportunity arose when Destinee, then in Grade 10, was approached by her art teacher, and Peace River Art Club Board Member, Mrs. Trudy Plaizier, who noticed her doodling in class. The ART HUB was looking for a young person to create a mural in Sloane’s Room, a special space dedicated to children in memory of Sloane Maxine Elizabeth Morey-Wood
A Vision of Whimsy and Detail
Destinee’s initial vision evolved as the project progressed, she explained. Key elements she knew had to be included were a large tree to anchor the composition and a sun and moon, which she typically includes in most of her artwork. The larger elvish characters are also a part of the young artists’ signature style. Destinee explained these characters reoccur in much of her work, having whole lives and stories created from her imagination.
The final piece is full of detail and designed to be a giant look and find, encouraging children—who are naturally curious—to feel like they are a part of the whimsical world of fairies and woodland creatures. The large mural is so full of detail that a person could look at it a dozen times and still spot something new and delightful. Children can search for small mice and ladybugs, wisps hiding amongst the flowers, and other fantastical and elvish characters.
Ultimately, the primary feeling Destinee said she hoped to convey was one of fun. She aimed for a piece that was not "too heavy" but instead felt "whimsical and nice," so that even adults could appreciate it.
From Doodler to Professional
The mural took an estimated 200 hours to complete, spread out over almost an entire year. The demanding process taught the young artist invaluable lessons, particularly about painting.
"When I first started, I still didn't really understand how color worked," Destinee explained, noting that the layering of colors to achieve different nuances was a major learning experience. She also realized she could manipulate one tube of paint to look "totally different" depending on its context in the mural.
More significantly, the massive project provided the confidence to move beyond sketching and doodling in her sketchbook in class. Having created an entire mural, Destinee feels people take her more seriously, which has led to her starting to take commissions and sell pieces.
Destinee hopes the mural will serve as an inspiration to others.
"I don't feel like I was gifted with art," she stated, emphasizing the sheer amount of work she has put into her style and process. She hopes people will look at the mural and be encouraged to think, "well, maybe I could try that."
A Grand Unveiling
The mural was officially revealed during the Art Club's third annual Art Gala evening on October 17.
