Yared Nigussu at Raw Canvas

I walked into Raw Canvas with a crowd of people surrounding the back part of the restaurant (the paint station). If you’ve never been to Raw Canvas, it’s a little bistro that serves fine wine, organic dishes, oh yeah, and paint. This little gem in the heart of Yaletown caters to creative minds. Vintage dining sets, purple wall paper and a metal construction of the deep-sea angler fish is meant to take you to a whimsical place and unleash your inner artiste on a raw canvas. Located in the back of the restaurant, only separated by a slate of drywall, easel tops protrude as paintbrushes seek their next statement.

On May 13, Art was rendered at my feet. If you haven't heard of him, well - now you have. His name is Yared Nigussu, and his passion for art was effortlessly portrayed in front of a full house at Raw Canvas. Some artists work in privacy - at least I know I do. Some like to keep their secrets and the makings of their beauty - whether it be music, dance or painting - to themselves until the final product is finished. But Nigussu invited everyone, friends and strangers, to witness a live painting. An artist in all aspects, Nigussu paints, performs and mentors. His humble and gentle aura speaks louder than his creations.

Shane Carling, Me and Yared Nigussu

It was one experience to witness Nigussu paint brush strokes of a whole spectrum of colour and turn into a vivid portrait, but it was another to see his energy emanate onto guitarist Shane Carling, and vice verse. There's no greater feeling than to see art dance off of two human bodies, mirroring energy to create sound that feeds the crowd and paint come to life. The audience was whisked away on a turbulent high between Nigussu's head bobbing and Carling's instrumental talent.