Monikas’s Art Boutique and Studio

from Create the Ripple Magazine December 2020

WHAT IS YOUR B.S.? YOUR BELIEF SYSTEM, AND HOW TO CHANGE IT!

By Ryschell Dragunov

Not all Hidden Gems are in Edmonton... Last year at the Edmonton Expo Face Painting Competition, I met Monika Blichar, of Monika’s Art Boutique and Studio from BC. I entered the Body Painting Competition and came in third place. Monika organizes amazing events for Artists. “ArtWorld Expo Body Painting Competition” is just one of them.

With COVID she, like many store owners and event planners, had to pivot. With all the uncertainty of the rules and regulations of COVID she has made some changes and additions to her Art Boutique and Studio. This is fortunate for us as we too can shop at her boutique and support Canadian artists online. With her business being a studio and a boutique, art classes are always on the menu and now they are online as well. If you are looking for something different to do, check out any of her online painting classes and more.

"Our goal is to allow our guests to experience imagination, creativity and possibility. We want all our guests to feel like they can do, be and see the impossible through imagination, inspiration and all the colours of creativity.” - Monika Blichar, Owner

Monika’s Art Boutique and Studio is unique. It is a boutique gallery and working art studio in one beautifully inspiring space! Monika Blichar, Founder and Owner, is the creative mind behind this retail boutique and art programs. With over 15 years teaching experience as well as 10 years as a creative entrepreneur, Monika offers an array of ways for children and adults alike to express themselves as well as enjoy, purchase and collect unique artisan items. Monika is passionate about creativity and imagination. She strives to offer a space to help visitors and students alike believe that anything is possible and that creativity is within all of us!

This little boutique is host to over 70 artists and designers.

This includes visual artists, jewellers, fashion designers as well as British Columbia Native Artists mainly from the Squamish Nation. They love to find unique items and make them available to customers as gift ideas or as additions to art collections. As all of their artists are constantly creating new pieces, their selection of merchandise is always changing and being updated particularly to suit each season.

If you are in BC you can visit her studio at 3063 Lonsdale Avenue in North Vancouver.

Her working studio is consistently bustling with working artists, arts programs and specialty workshops. They offer programming for children and adults including painting, jewelry making, fashion workshops and specialty workshops led by local artists and creative professionals. They also offer kids art camps during summer, winter and spring break as well as after school classes year round.