Avril Lavigne

As a child, Avril Lavigne dreamed of being able to express herself through art. At the age of five, she started drawing and eventually decided that this was something she wanted to pursue professionally. She initially began her art studies in Canada before going on to study at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France. After completing her studies, Lavigne moved to Montreal, Quebec and found work as an assistant to a commercial artist. It was at this time that she began to explore different styles and developed her unique artistic voice. Today, as one of the most recognizable faces in Canadian art, she is the perfect example of how even as a child, you can follow your dreams and be successful.

Early Life

Avril Lavigne was born on May 4, 1983, in Montreal, Quebec. She is the daughter of the late Réjean Lavigne and Suzanne Leblanc. Her older brother, Max, is three years her senior. Coming from a family of musicians, Lavigne was introduced to music at a young age and started playing the piano at the age of three. At the age of six, she picked up the guitar and taught herself how to play. It was at this age that she decided that she wanted to be a professional musician and began taking lessons from a guitar teacher. While growing up, she was a tomboy and had a passion for sports. She played hockey, soccer, and rode her bicycle constantly. She graduated from Sainte-Thérèse-de-Blainville High School in 2001 and later attended the University of Québec’s École de technologie supérieure to study business administration. However, in 2006, she dropped out of the program and began working as an art assistant at a Quebec City-based commercial art studio.

Musical Career

While working as an art assistant, Lavigne began performing in local bars and clubs with her brother and a few of his friends. She played various gigs with them to raise money for their fledgling music career. They eventually released an independent album, and the response was great. The group started receiving regular airplay on Canadian radio stations and the independent album debuted at number three on the Canadian music charts. This led to the brothers teaming up with other musicians to form an indie band. They started performing in bars and clubs around town and released their second album, “We’ve Got Another Freak (Acoustic)”. The album featured a newer, more acoustic oriented sound and included five of Lavigne’s original compositions. The album received extensive airplay on Canadian radio and television and reached number one on the Canadian albums chart. The track “I’m With You” was even featured in the 2010 film, The Big Shady.

Fine Art Career

Lavigne’s professional career as an art assistant came to an end in 2010. At this point, she decided that she wanted to fully dedicate herself to her art and started exploring different styles and developing her unique artistic voice. She started using different media to accomplish her goals, experimenting with acrylics, oils, and watercolors. She also began using different materials, such as aluminum, steel, and cardboard to create her drawings and paintings. She found inspiration in many different places, from fashion magazines to old film stills. One of her biggest influences is the surrealist artist, Salvador Dalí. He is most well known for his painting, “The Persistence of Memory”, a recreation of which she included on her “Drawing Paradise” album cover. Lavigne often draws from personal experience, using her own life as inspiration for her work. One of her biggest challenges as an artist is presenting new work while continuing to develop her personal style. She constantly looks for inspiration and challenges herself to produce unique work, while maintaining her distinct artistic voice.

Style

Lavigne’s style has been described as unique and fresh by critics. She often uses her signature fluorescent paint to outline her subjects and adds a pop of color with washes of acrylic or oil paint. She mostly paints on cardboard or aluminum because these materials are more flexible than canvas and allow for easier blending of hues. She primarily works in thick washes, adding detail with watercolor and pencil. She often goes back and forth between the two, adding more watercolor as the work progresses.

Influences

As a child, Avril Lavigne dreamt of being able to express herself through art. At the age of five, she started drawing and eventually decided that this was something she wanted to pursue professionally. She began her art studies in Canada before going on to study at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France. After completing her studies, Lavigne moved to Montreal, Quebec and found work as an assistant to a commercial artist. It was at this time that she began to explore different styles and developed her unique artistic voice. Today, as one of the most recognizable faces in Canadian art, she is the perfect example of how even as a child, you can follow your dreams and be successful.