-Story by Angela Cowan

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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Gazing at Lucie Marlo害羞草研究所檚 utterly unique abstract paintings at her home in Broadmead, it害羞草研究所檚 abundantly clear that art is in her blood. But as we sit down to chat and she hands me a plate of peanut butter cookies (healthy, she swears) and a cup of Moringa tea, we actually start our conversation talking about health.

Food is so important and such a vital part of living well, she says, explaining that while she grew up surrounded by art, she actually has a PhD in nutrition.

害羞草研究所淢y father was a well-known artist in Europe, and it was feast or famine growing up,害羞草研究所� she explains. 害羞草研究所淚t was a hard childhood.害羞草研究所�

Born in Quebec City, Lucie moved with her family to her father害羞草研究所檚 home country of Montenegro when she was five, and stayed there until they came back to Canada six years later.

Growing up with the constant shadow of lack affected her deeply, and although Lucie had an undeniable passion for art 害羞草研究所� as early as five years old, she would hide in the corner of her father害羞草研究所檚 studio and just watch him paint 害羞草研究所� she pushed it away for a long time.

害羞草研究所淚 was too afraid of putting my family through what I went through as a child.害羞草研究所�

Instead, she was drawn to her other passion, health and wellness, achieved her doctorate, and inspired by her mother 害羞草研究所� who went back to school and got her doctorate in her sixties 害羞草研究所� Lucie opened and managed several multi-disciplinary health clinics in Winnipeg, staying in that role for more than a decade.

But threads of her early love kept creeping in, and one evening, after having dinner with her brother, she took a brush to a blank canvas she害羞草研究所檇 been staring at for days. She woke up the next morning still lying next to the canvas, brush in hand, having stayed up until 4 am painting in her now-distinct abstract style.

害羞草研究所淭his is what my soul created,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淭his is what came pouring out.害羞草研究所�

Shortly after, Lucie made the difficult decision to sell the clinics and focus on her art, despite the uncertainty of her path. She also made the move from Winnipeg out to Victoria, her 害羞草研究所渉eaven on earth.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚 came to Victoria 害羞草研究所� and be still my heart 害羞草研究所� I went insane. I didn害羞草研究所檛 know there was such a place!害羞草研究所�

Inspired in part by her gorgeous new environment, her distinct abstract style quickly made waves in the art community, and upscale collectors and sheer lovers of art both came knocking.

害羞草研究所淚 have an amazing problem. I have people who collect my artwork regularly,害羞草研究所� she laughs.

Over the years, collectors have been so enthusiastic about getting their hands on her work, she害羞草研究所檚 barely had the time to get her pieces into galleries before they害羞草研究所檝e sold. Needless to say, the positive reactions made it easier for her to commit to her art.

害羞草研究所淚t makes all the difference when people believe in you and your art,害羞草研究所� she says, describing a woman who bought painting after painting, until Lucie finally asked why she was collecting so many. 害羞草研究所淪he said she thought they were going to appreciate, and she was going to leave them to her grandchildren. I started to cry. I really thought, 害羞草研究所業 have so many people believing in me, I have to give it my best shot.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

Lucie害羞草研究所檚 been painting full time for the last 16 years, but she害羞草研究所檚 remained true to her other passion of health, and also to making the world a better place.

害羞草研究所淚 couldn害羞草研究所檛 turn my back on what I know. I害羞草研究所檓 painfully aware of the need out there, so I donate a percentage of what I make.害羞草研究所�

Her experiences in Montenegro and the desperate need of its one orphanage stuck with her. Now, Lucie donates a percentage of the sales from her paintings to the Mladost Bijela orphanage in Herceg Novi, Montenegro, which has housed more than 2,000 children and teenagers since it opened in 1946. She also spearheaded a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society last September in support of breast cancer research, and she continues to search for more ways to give back to her home community of Victoria and beyond.

害羞草研究所淚 still miss working in the clinic. That害羞草研究所檚 why I fundraise,害羞草研究所� she says, and pauses. 害羞草研究所淪elling the clinics was the hardest thing I害羞草研究所檝e ever done. I had two passions, and this one wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be denied. This is really what I feel I was meant to do. It just took me a while to give myself permission.害羞草研究所�

None of it would have ever come to fruition were it not for the incredible support she害羞草研究所檇 been blessed with from those that loved her throughout, especially her mother.

害羞草研究所淢y mom is my hero,害羞草研究所� she says with a heartfelt conviction that makes me want to hug my own mom. 害羞草研究所淚 had a mom who really encouraged my passion. She wanted me to follow my heart.害羞草研究所�

She adds with a laugh, 害羞草研究所淪he was actually more excited at my gallery opening than when I got my doctorate.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲hen you害羞草研究所檙e fortunate enough to do what you love the most, and people appreciate it, it害羞草研究所檚 a dream come true,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淚t feels so good to be in harmony.害羞草研究所�

Lucie spends part of the year in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, and while she害羞草研究所檚 out of the country, Danisha Drury from Design District Access acts as her exclusive liaison in Victoria. For more information on Lucie害羞草研究所檚 work, call Danisha at 888-590-8598, or visit .