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Malinda Prudhomme at ART BATTLE 66

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Malinda Prudhomme at ART BATTLE 66

On Tuesday September 24, 2013 I competed in ART BATTLE 66 at the Great Hall in Toronto!!! Just being invited to take part was an incredible honour, being in it was a dream come true.

Some of you may not know that I grew up in a smaller town called Val Caron on the out squirts of the small city of Sudbury in Northern Ontario. Though I'm told they are just now starting to build an art community, growing up in Sudbury was not very inspiring. I always felt that even though I was a talented artist being an artist professionally was not a realistic option. It was as if being an artist was a little girls dream ... something that could never be accomplished. It wasn't until later, when I took a Visual Art minor in North Bay, ON in order to improve my chances at landing a teaching job, that I realized I had something worth sharing and that if I put all of my passion and effort into it I could make an income doing it.

I followed that dream to Toronto, where I had always wanted to live. It was the first few weeks that I had been living there when I noticed fliers for an art battle. I was working as a receptionist at the time and had put my artwork on back burner; doing it only for pleasure or small commissions from family and friends. I still felt being a full time artist was something unachievable. I attended the advertised art battle with an immense amount of excitement. At the end of the night I mentioned to my friend that it would be like living a dream taking part in that. I wondered if I would ever have the skill to be invited to take part in something so exciting with all of those people watching.

So when I say that taking part in ART BATTLE 66 was a dream come true, I truly mean it. I practiced for weeks, a shared my progress with my fans, and though I thought I had built some courage, I was very nervous! But when the timer started I got in the zone and the brushes/knifes just went! Though I did not win the battle I am thrilled with the results of my painting. I hope you like it too!

Please continue scrolling to see photos from the event! (Click on photos to see a larger view)

Watch my 20 MIN Art Battle speed painting come to life in this VIDEO!