The Story of Love, Albie
where it all started
At the end of the day, I often wrote down my stories and ideas in my journal, signing it, “Love, Albie”: a secret pen name for myself based on a childhood nickname given to me by a family friend.
I often get asked, “Why the name ‘Love, Albie’?”
The story of how my business was created - both the name, and the very fact of my mural painting business - goes back to a sensitive, dreamy, imaginative little girl.
As the youngest of four kids, with a large age gap between myself and my siblings, I spent a lot of time entertaining myself as a child. Growing up on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, the ocean and the forests were the wild and wonderful backdrop to the colourful worlds I would build in my imagination.
Even when in school or at home, I was often lost to the clouds, my thoughts drifting to fairies, mermaids and elves and the adventures they would embark upon.
The journey of returning to art, my imagination, and my childhood dreams as an adult was a long and winding path. I tried on many different career hats, but nothing was sticking. Somewhere along the way I had forgotten that I was, at heart, a sensitive dreamer with a passion for nature, colour, and creative expression.
During the pandemic, I had finally decided to pursue art at the Alberta University of the Arts. I was planning to major in Printmaking, having fallen in love with the focus on line and form, and the meditative quality of the repetitive process of pulling an edition of prints. However, having to set up an at-home studio during Covid for this highly technical traditional art form made the medium somewhat lose its shine for me at the time.
At this point, I thought back to the last time I had truly been stopped in my tracks by a piece of physical art. It wasn’t in an art gallery: it had been in the streets of Croatia, where I stumbled across a long stretch of public murals, each with their own style and personality.
These works of art transformed what was otherwise a nondescript alley into a vibrant and magnetic installation of joy and energy. As soon as I reflected on this experience, I was completely hooked on the concept of murals and all their possibilities.
This is for
little Isabelle
When I decided to officially pursue this career and create my own business, I knew I wanted to honor that inner child, as it is her sunshine, stubborn perseverance, and relentless prioritization of joy that keeps me going. She embodies my belief in the power of art to create connection and meaning, despite every challenging aspect of our current world. And so Love, Albie was created: a love letter from little me.
“Isabelle painted a mural for my baby’s nursery and it’s incredibly special. She went above and beyond, making it personal by including my favorite plants and animals. She checked in regularly and communicated great, overall it was a relatively easy process!”
- Andraya M.
NATURE AS INSPIRATION
Living and working on the unceded traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation for most of my life, I have always felt so grateful to consider this magical place home. As an artist, I am always seeking to honour the lands on which my work is situated and create a link between the urban landscape and the environments that surround us. Organic shapes, bright florals and natural elements are central to my work.
What I believe:
COMMUNITY IS EVERYTHING
As a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I have come to understand deeply how important building a community is to creating a rich, joyful life, deep with meaning and friendship. Shared spaces are often a keystone to the meeting, communication of ideas and exchange of perspectives that are vital to creating change. I believe that murals are a way to foster that connection and inspire people to gather.
Joy is resistance
In a modern world that is constantly challenging my optimism and collectively causing more anxiety and doom, it can feel as though there is no time or place for art. However, it is my firm belief that these times are when it is even more important to prioritize joy. I am here to remind us all that there is still an abundance of love in the world. To bring more moments of connection, more colour, and more playfulness into our daily experience.
Where you’ll find me outside of mural work:
When I am not painting murals, I can be found working on any of the textile-based projects I have on the go at any given moment — I love sewing, knitting, crocheting, and right now my particular hyperfixation is cross-stitch. I love experimenting with colour in completely different textures and mediums.
The act of working with my hands allows my mind to drift and sort out different ideas and challenges, whether to do with a current mural project, or in my personal life.
As any artist needs time away from creating, I often escape into the forest with my girlfriend Maddy and my dog Paulie. I may even bring along my film camera and gather inspiration for my next project, but mostly we just enjoy the fresh air and rosy cheeks from spending time amongst the trees.
Murals are more than just paint on a wall. They are opportunities for us to be reminded of who we are and what we care about, to tell our stories, and to step into the present moment and participate in a shared experience.
