Christine Whelan FEO, July 18, 2024, VOL. 5 ISSUE 23

When Linda Stevenson and her grandson, Ryan Mullin, were invited to participate in the Multi-Generational Art Show at the Fort Erie Lions Seniors’ Centre, promoted as “an impressive collection of art that captures the essences of the generations” on June 8, they packed up their selected artwork and happily set it up at the centre, along with other artists.

The show, a collaboration of the Fort Erie Arts Council, Greater Fort Erie Secondary School (GFESS) and Lakeshore Catholic High School, attracted about 50 people, including Regional Councillor Tom Insinna, to walk through the show.

Ryan, a student at Lakeshore Catholic High School, won first place for the Niagara Catholic School Board. 

Linda’s Story

Linda likes to paint landscapes and trees.

“When I retired in 2009 in Meaford, Ontario, where I used to live, I was with the Meaford Creative Arts Association. I ran the association for the last couple of years I was there.” She has participated in art gallery displays and has had some sales.

Stevenson is one of the members of the Art Club on Mondays at the Fort Erie Lions Seniors Centre and a member of the Fort Erie Arts Council.

Painting Together

Linda shared how this creative partnership began. “Ryan and I started painting together through FaceTime during the pandemic, Ryan at his house, me at my house,” which she noted had its challenges.

“He drew a beautiful horse, and I painted it.” It was a commissioned piece by a friend of hers.

Linda and Ryan have now been painting together for years. For Ryan, this has made quite an impact on his life and his future. Multi-Generational Art Show at Fort Erie Lions Seniors Centre: Just the Tip of the Story for Grandmother and Grandson

When Linda Stevenson and her grandson, Ryan Mullin, were invited to participate in the Multi-Generational Art Show at the Fort Erie Lions Seniors’ Centre, promoted as “an impressive collection of art that captures the essences of the generations” on June 8, they packed up their selected artwork and happily set it up at the centre, along with other artists.

The show, a collaboration of the Fort Erie Arts Council, Greater Fort Erie Secondary School (GFESS) and Lakeshore Catholic High School, attracted about 50 people, including Regional Councillor Tom Insinna, to walk through the show.

Ryan, a student at Lakeshore Catholic High School, won first place for the Niagara Catholic School Board. 

Linda’s Story

Linda likes to paint landscapes and trees.

“When I retired in 2009 in Meaford, Ontario, where I used to live, I was with the Meaford Creative Arts Association. I ran the association for the last couple of years I was there.” She has participated in art gallery displays and has had some sales.

Stevenson is one of the members of the Art Club on Mondays at the Fort Erie Lions Seniors Centre and a member of the Fort Erie Arts Council.

Painting Together

Linda shared how this creative partnership began. “Ryan and I started painting together through FaceTime during the pandemic, Ryan at his house, me at my house,” which she noted had its challenges.

“He drew a beautiful horse, and I painted it.” It was commissioned by a friend of hers.

Linda and Ryan have now been painting together for years. For Ryan, this has made quite an impact on his life and his future.

Ryan’s Story

“In 2020, Ryan painted a mural for a woman on two walls at the back of her home. It’s about 26 feet long and 9 feet high. It was the first time he’d ever painted something like this.” Linda said he made it into the newspaper for this achievement.

“She was a former teacher of mine,” Mullin added. “She volunteered at my elementary school when I was in grades two and three. She asked me the summer that I graduated from grade 8.” He painted it that summer, during the pandemic.

“It took me a bit more than two weeks.”

When the restrictions were lifted, Ryan’s artistic advancement had a chance. He explained, “I was able to take two art courses, one in the first semester and one in the second, for both grades 11 and 12.

“On top of school classes, I was teaching myself design with Photoshop and Illustrator, learning a media-type approach to art for my school. I made a lot of logos for the school.”

Linda added, “He did all the logos for the teams at Lakeshore Catholic. He did an amazing job.”

Ryan was also asked to do other smaller jobs. “There are a couple of paintings I did around the school, just to hang up for fun. I designed and started two murals.”

At the same time, he worked on the high school’s yearbooks. This year is his second year. “This year, I wanted to take on the lead role with the yearbook. Lakeshore offered a class for it, a Communications Technology Course. So, I got my credit while we were working on the yearbook. I would say a good 95% of the yearbook is just me. The background, content, and most of the editing.”

Ryan received a scholarship for the work he did on the yearbook.

Linda says her grandson does portraits “like you would not believe.” His first portrait was of Keanu Reeves. “You would think it was a photograph.”

The proud grandma shared, “He’s also won third in Canada for a Legion Remembrance Day poster contest. He was 14 years old. He won second in all of Canada when he was 15.”

Ryan graduated from high school this year. Upon graduation, he received the biggest award of grade 12, the Principal’s Medal of Excellence. In the fall, he is off to the Toronto School of Art.

Ryan and Linda both talked about his move to the big city. He won’t be alone. They have family who live in Toronto.

“My girlfriend is going to the same school as me. She’s taking the graphic design route.”

Looking Forward

When asked what he thinks his future holds, Ryan replied, “Wherever the Toronto path takes me.  I have my eye on becoming an art school teacher.”

He shared his inspiration: “I enjoyed being involved in everything this year and last year in school.”

During Ryan’s first two years, with the pandemic restrictions, nothing was available, but once everything was lifted, he participated in anything he could. “With all the activities I joined in, I saw how the teachers at my school played a part in the extracurricular activities.

“My art teacher ran the art club on Thursdays. She was also the coach for the ultimate frisbee team.”

He imagined himself doing that job and believed it would be, for him, so much fun. “There is no way I can see myself looking at the clock and thinking, I’ve got three more hours to go. That’s the kind of job I want to do.”

He added, “I like sports, so I could be a coach. I like to cheer people on and get involved in team activities.”

However, he admits that he will be looking at all options and being open to whatever comes up.

Referring back to the list of her grandson’s achievements, she included, “And while Ryan did all those things, he also worked at Tim Hortons. And still is.”

A week after our interview, Ryan said he would be looking for an apartment in Toronto. “Once I get my moving date, I’ll give my two-week notice at work.

All of Ryan’s work can be seen on Instagram. His account name is mullins_art

Ryan’s Story

“In 2020, Ryan painted a mural for a woman on two walls at the back of her home. It’s about 26 feet long and 9 feet high. It was the first time he’d ever painted something like this.” Linda said he made it into the newspaper for this achievement.

“She was a former teacher of mine,” Mullin added. “She volunteered at my elementary school when I was in grades two and three. She asked me the summer that I graduated from grade 8.” He painted it that summer, during the pandemic.

“It took me a bit more than two weeks.”

When the restrictions were lifted, Ryan’s artistic advancement had a chance. He explained, “I was able to take two art courses, one in the first semester and one in the second, for both grades 11 and 12.

“On top of school classes, I was teaching myself design with Photoshop and Illustrator, learning a media-type approach to art for my school. I made a lot of logos for the school.”

Linda added, “He did all the logos for the teams at Lakeshore Catholic. He did an amazing job.”

Ryan was also asked to do other smaller jobs. “There are a couple of paintings I did around the school, just to hang up for fun. I designed and started two murals.”

At the same time, he worked on the high school’s yearbooks. This year is his second year. “This year, I wanted to take on the lead role with the yearbook. Lakeshore offered a class for it, a Communications Technology Course. So, I got my credit while we were working on the yearbook. I would say a good 95% of the yearbook is just me. The background, content, and most of the editing.”

Ryan received a scholarship for the work he did on the yearbook.

Linda says her grandson does portraits “like you would not believe.” His first portrait was of Keanu Reeves. “You would think it was a photograph.”

The proud grandma shared, “He’s also won third in Canada for a Legion Remembrance Day poster contest. He was 14 years old. He won second in all of Canada when he was 15.”

Ryan graduated from high school this year. Upon graduation, he received the biggest award of grade 12, the Principal’s Medal of Excellence. In the fall, he is off to the Toronto School of Art.

Ryan and Linda both talked about his move to the big city. He won’t be alone. They have family who live in Toronto.

“My girlfriend is going to the same school as me. She’s taking the graphic design route.”

Looking Forward

When asked what he thinks his future holds, Ryan replied, “Wherever the Toronto path takes me.  I have my eye on becoming an art school teacher.”

He shared his inspiration: “I enjoyed being involved in everything this year and last year in school.”

During Ryan’s first two years, with the pandemic restrictions, nothing was available, but once everything was lifted, he participated in anything he could. “With all the activities I joined in, I saw how the teachers at my school played a part in the extracurricular activities.

“My art teacher ran the art club on Thursdays. She was also the coach for the ultimate frisbee team.”

He imagined himself doing that job and believed it would be, for him, so much fun. “There is no way I can see myself looking at the clock and thinking, I’ve got three more hours to go. That’s the kind of job I want to do.”

He added, “I like sports, so I could be a coach. I like to cheer people on and get involved in team activities.”

However, he admits that he will be looking at all options and being open to whatever comes up.

Referring back to the list of her grandson’s achievements, she included, “And while Ryan did all those things, he also worked at Tim Hortons. And still is.”

A week after our interview, Ryan said he would be looking for an apartment in Toronto. “Once I get my moving date, I’ll give my two-week notice at work.

All of Ryan’s work can be seen on Instagram. His account name is mullins_art