Love Rosswood? There’s a T-shirt for that.
For the first time, residents and travelers can express their enthusiasm for Rosswood in style.
Artist Marie-Christine Claveau has collaborated with the Rosswood General Store and released four prints on a T-shirt, highlighting the landscape of the Kalum Valley.
“There are so many people driving up this road and stopping at the store, and they’re looking for something that reminds them a bit more about the place,” says Claveau. “I just started playing on my computer and designed these four t-shirts with paintings that I had made in the past couple of years.”
Producing each T-shirt by hand, she’s made 50 already and has another 20 orders requested since the collection was announced in June. She says she wasn’t expecting such a positive response and has been doing her best to keep up with the demands.
“It’s been pretty good, but a little bit overwhelming. I’m not sure how to manage all of it yet,” she says with a laugh. “I invited people to send me orders online too and that went a little crazy.”
Claveau says the idea originated during a conversation about Rosswood with the store’s owner this past winter. As residents of the community, they both agreed a T-shirt would be a great way to commemorate people’s time and appreciation for the area.
Being an artist and outdoor enthusiast, Claveau says she’s enthralled by the natural beauty of the Rosswood area and for many years, has been illustrating it through her paintings in all its colours and angles. She decided to highlight Kalum Lake, Wesach Mountain, Cedar River and Treston Mountain in her four designs.
“[Some people] can’t afford the paintings or have room to put the paintings in their house, but wearable art is inexpensive and it’s fun,” she says.
Although originally from Québec, Cleavuau moved to Rosswood 13 years ago after living in her van while travelling B.C.. Having worked as a surveyor and tree planter to fishing, kayaking or just hiking with her family in the area, she says these places not only represent Rosswood but resonate with her on a personal level as well.
“I would say Treston Mountain is almost my muse, I find it’s like the perfect mountain. It’s really beautiful in all seasons too and depending on the light, has contrast and everything, [and I] see it on the drive down from Rosswood into town,” she says.
“[And the Kalum Lake painting], is the view looking at the north and that whole range is where I planted all of the [tree] blocks on those mountains and surveyed them. It’s nice to look at it from that angle and seeing them green up more every year.”
Claveu adds that a shop in Vernon, B.C. has reached out to ask her to design items for their store after seeing her print collection for Rosswood, but says her main focus is on the area she now calls home.
“I like painting the landscape, the fauna and flora of northern B.C., [but my work is] very colorful… maybe touching a little bit of the abstract,” Claveau says.
“And when I paint, I use a lot of layers and then in the end, it always becomes so saturated. I think [the colours here are] stronger than me, I always bring it there.”