Written by Oscar Clancy
Oscar Clancy is a grade twelve student and artist from Guelph, currently working with the Guelph Arts Council for co-op. As both an artist and high school student, with a goal of pursuing a future art career, they were very excited to hear about a co-op position with the Guelph Arts Council. Oscar is currently helping with the preparation for Art on the Street, a Guelph art market happening in June. In their co-op position so far, Oscar is thoroughly enjoying the process of organizing for an event such as Art on the Street, especially enjoying getting to know more local artists.
Oscar’s own art consists of a variety of mediums and styles, as they love to experiment and try new creative techniques. Oscar enjoys drawing digitally, along with painting, using oils and acrylics the most. Inspired by the music and media they consume, as well as their personal life, much of their artwork features somewhat abstract interpretations of their experiences as a queer and alternative individual. Oscar is also very interested in writing and character design, and wishes to one day publish a web-comic, or even an animated series.
In the last semester of Oscar’s eleventh grade school year, they had the exciting opportunity of joining the MADE (Music, Art, Drama, English) art program. The program’s classes, taught by Lane Osborne and Gerard Gouthro, encouraged Oscar to step out of their comfort zone and try things they had never done before in a regular high school art class. Oscar’s favourite MADE memory was collaborating with the other students to write and organize their final show, Speed River Anthology, in which they performed a series of short plays focused on important figures in Guelph history. Through this experience Oscar had the opportunity to sing a duet for the audience of their final show, something they had always been interested in trying, but never had the confidence to do before the MADE program.
Next year Oscar is starting at the University of Guelph, majoring in studio art. They are extremely enthusiastic about pursuing art in university, and they plan to continue their artistic career after they are finished school. Oscar is also looking forward to their next three months of co-op with the Guelph Arts Council, and is very excited about continuing to be involved with the Guelph arts community in the future.
