Art Battle Windsor

Spectators came out to watch artists in a paint marathon: Art Battle at the Walkerville Brewery on Feb. 11.
A total of six artists competed in each round, cheered on by more than 100 art fans.

Artist Kassandra Heath is from London, Ont. and said this is not her first competition.

“I’ve been doing lots of different art battles. I think I came across it when a friend told me about it and that was probably five years ago now,” said Heath. “For me as an artist it’s addicting. Just love the challenge of trying to come up with something new, it’s just really, really fun.”

Heath also said she came with no idea what she will be painting for the event.

“I have an idea of a couple of paintings that I might want to do that I have done before but maybe change them up tonight. But as of right now I am still up in the air I don’t want to know what I am going to do just yet,” said Heath.

Painters had 20 minutes each round to work their masterpieces. There was a live auction where the spectators had a chance to buy any of the pieces painted that evening.

The idea for Windsor to host Art Battle was developed by the owners of Windsor real estate business PropertyGuys Windsor. Glorianna Sherme and her husband Paul learned about Art Battle just before they moved from Yellowknife.

“They had just introduced the Art Battle to Yellowknife and so we never get a chance to go,” said Sherme. “So, by the time we moved back to Windsor we were like we missed it but we would still like to see it. And we think this is a cool event that Windsor would love, and it’s never been here so we figured let’s bring something positive here.”

According to Art Battle.com Windsor, the city hosted the event three times during 2019.

Artist Judy DePassio, who has her own art page on Facebook titled Art You Creative, said she was excited to be a part of the competition and said she enjoys being challenged.

“I am so glad for the opportunity to stand alongside my other artists,” said DePassio. “I’m really up for the challenge and I think if no one puts a demand on your talent how are you going to know what you got? But the main thing is I’m all about having some fun tonight.”

According to Art Battle.com Windsor, Art Battle was first created in 2001 in New York City by artist Sean Bono. There were six artists who would produce a black and white painting in just 90 minutes. The event was created as a stiff competition and many have had ambitions of becoming the next star artist, such as Warhol, Haring and Basquait. By 2015 Art Battle celebrations were going strong internationally including Canada.

Maude Chalifour, an artist from Quebec City won this year’s Windsor competition, and now she can move on to higher levels, such as regional, city or state. You can view her work on her website maudenarts.com.