-Story by Angela Cowan

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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Gazing at Lucie Marlo91裸聊视频檚 utterly unique abstract paintings at her home in Broadmead, it91裸聊视频檚 abundantly clear that art is in her blood. But as we sit down to chat and she hands me a plate of peanut butter cookies (healthy, she swears) and a cup of Moringa tea, we actually start our conversation talking about health.

Food is so important and such a vital part of living well, she says, explaining that while she grew up surrounded by art, she actually has a PhD in nutrition.

91裸聊视频淢y father was a well-known artist in Europe, and it was feast or famine growing up,91裸聊视频� she explains. 91裸聊视频淚t was a hard childhood.91裸聊视频�

Born in Quebec City, Lucie moved with her family to her father91裸聊视频檚 home country of Montenegro when she was five, and stayed there until they came back to Canada six years later.

Growing up with the constant shadow of lack affected her deeply, and although Lucie had an undeniable passion for art 91裸聊视频� as early as five years old, she would hide in the corner of her father91裸聊视频檚 studio and just watch him paint 91裸聊视频� she pushed it away for a long time.

91裸聊视频淚 was too afraid of putting my family through what I went through as a child.91裸聊视频�

Instead, she was drawn to her other passion, health and wellness, achieved her doctorate, and inspired by her mother 91裸聊视频� who went back to school and got her doctorate in her sixties 91裸聊视频� Lucie opened and managed several multi-disciplinary health clinics in Winnipeg, staying in that role for more than a decade.

But threads of her early love kept creeping in, and one evening, after having dinner with her brother, she took a brush to a blank canvas she91裸聊视频檇 been staring at for days. She woke up the next morning still lying next to the canvas, brush in hand, having stayed up until 4 am painting in her now-distinct abstract style.

91裸聊视频淭his is what my soul created,91裸聊视频� she says. 91裸聊视频淭his is what came pouring out.91裸聊视频�

Shortly after, Lucie made the difficult decision to sell the clinics and focus on her art, despite the uncertainty of her path. She also made the move from Winnipeg out to Victoria, her 91裸聊视频渉eaven on earth.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚 came to Victoria 91裸聊视频� and be still my heart 91裸聊视频� I went insane. I didn91裸聊视频檛 know there was such a place!91裸聊视频�

Inspired in part by her gorgeous new environment, her distinct abstract style quickly made waves in the art community, and upscale collectors and sheer lovers of art both came knocking.

91裸聊视频淚 have an amazing problem. I have people who collect my artwork regularly,91裸聊视频� she laughs.

Over the years, collectors have been so enthusiastic about getting their hands on her work, she91裸聊视频檚 barely had the time to get her pieces into galleries before they91裸聊视频檝e sold. Needless to say, the positive reactions made it easier for her to commit to her art.

91裸聊视频淚t makes all the difference when people believe in you and your art,91裸聊视频� she says, describing a woman who bought painting after painting, until Lucie finally asked why she was collecting so many. 91裸聊视频淪he said she thought they were going to appreciate, and she was going to leave them to her grandchildren. I started to cry. I really thought, 91裸聊视频業 have so many people believing in me, I have to give it my best shot.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

Lucie91裸聊视频檚 been painting full time for the last 16 years, but she91裸聊视频檚 remained true to her other passion of health, and also to making the world a better place.

91裸聊视频淚 couldn91裸聊视频檛 turn my back on what I know. I91裸聊视频檓 painfully aware of the need out there, so I donate a percentage of what I make.91裸聊视频�

Her experiences in Montenegro and the desperate need of its one orphanage stuck with her. Now, Lucie donates a percentage of the sales from her paintings to the Mladost Bijela orphanage in Herceg Novi, Montenegro, which has housed more than 2,000 children and teenagers since it opened in 1946. She also spearheaded a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society last September in support of breast cancer research, and she continues to search for more ways to give back to her home community of Victoria and beyond.

91裸聊视频淚 still miss working in the clinic. That91裸聊视频檚 why I fundraise,91裸聊视频� she says, and pauses. 91裸聊视频淪elling the clinics was the hardest thing I91裸聊视频檝e ever done. I had two passions, and this one wouldn91裸聊视频檛 be denied. This is really what I feel I was meant to do. It just took me a while to give myself permission.91裸聊视频�

None of it would have ever come to fruition were it not for the incredible support she91裸聊视频檇 been blessed with from those that loved her throughout, especially her mother.

91裸聊视频淢y mom is my hero,91裸聊视频� she says with a heartfelt conviction that makes me want to hug my own mom. 91裸聊视频淚 had a mom who really encouraged my passion. She wanted me to follow my heart.91裸聊视频�

She adds with a laugh, 91裸聊视频淪he was actually more excited at my gallery opening than when I got my doctorate.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淲hen you91裸聊视频檙e fortunate enough to do what you love the most, and people appreciate it, it91裸聊视频檚 a dream come true,91裸聊视频� she says. 91裸聊视频淚t feels so good to be in harmony.91裸聊视频�

Lucie spends part of the year in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, and while she91裸聊视频檚 out of the country, Danisha Drury from Design District Access acts as her exclusive liaison in Victoria. For more information on Lucie91裸聊视频檚 work, call Danisha at 888-590-8598, or visit .