April 1 - 30, 2026
Janice Blaine
Wild Patches
The Wild Patches Project is a series of paintings inspired by Heritage Trees and Urban Green Spaces that Janice Blaine has photographed & sketched over the years. It blends nature and mythology into narrative works of art. These pieces are portraits of her artistic journey through inner city green spaces, and the magic she finds there. They are celebrations of the spaces that still thrive, & memorials to those that have been lost.
Janice Blaine is an award-winning illustrator with a love of literature. She has spent more than twenty years working in the animation industry and the publishing industry as a traditional animator, layout artist, designer, and illustrator. She lives in Calgary, Alberta.
This project was created with the support of Calgary Arts Development and The City of Calgary.
Opening Reception
April 1, 2026 | 7:00 pm
Canopy Studios
1723 9th St SW, Calgary, AB
Meet the Artist
Janice Blaine is a storyteller at heart. Her art is her voice - revealing her tales to those who are willing to listen.
Throughout her creative journey, Janice has worked as a fine artist, illustrator, layout artist, and classical animator. These diverse experiences have shaped both her technical foundation and her versatility in style and subject matter. She works fluidly between traditional and digital media—often blending the two—selecting materials that best express the heart and vision of each piece.
As an illustrator and book designer, Janice collaborates closely with writers to bring their ideas to life. The relationship between word and image is a continual source of challenge and inspiration. Viewers and collaborators are drawn to her work for its narrative depth, its fantastical spark, and the illusion of movement and life that animates her style.
In her personal fine art practice, Janice explores myth, folklore, and the hidden stories within the natural world. Tree Spirits and Green Men frequently emerge in her work—figures rooted in years of observing, studying, and sketching local trees. Her paintings and sculptures blend nature and mythology, revealing the quiet magic she sees flourishing in the landscape. Through her narrative works, she invites viewers to pause, look closer, and rediscover the mythic beauty that surrounds them every day.