-Story by Angela Cowan

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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Gazing at Lucie Marlo鈥檚 utterly unique abstract paintings at her home in Broadmead, it鈥檚 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.

鈥淢y father was a well-known artist in Europe, and it was feast or famine growing up,鈥� she explains. 鈥淚t was a hard childhood.鈥�

Born in Quebec City, Lucie moved with her family to her father鈥檚 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 鈥� as early as five years old, she would hide in the corner of her father鈥檚 studio and just watch him paint 鈥� she pushed it away for a long time.

鈥淚 was too afraid of putting my family through what I went through as a child.鈥�

Instead, she was drawn to her other passion, health and wellness, achieved her doctorate, and inspired by her mother 鈥� who went back to school and got her doctorate in her sixties 鈥� 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 she鈥檇 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.

鈥淭his is what my soul created,鈥� she says. 鈥淭his is what came pouring out.鈥�

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 鈥渉eaven on earth.鈥�

鈥淚 came to Victoria 鈥� and be still my heart 鈥� I went insane. I didn鈥檛 know there was such a place!鈥�

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.

鈥淚 have an amazing problem. I have people who collect my artwork regularly,鈥� she laughs.

Over the years, collectors have been so enthusiastic about getting their hands on her work, she鈥檚 barely had the time to get her pieces into galleries before they鈥檝e sold. Needless to say, the positive reactions made it easier for her to commit to her art.

鈥淚t makes all the difference when people believe in you and your art,鈥� she says, describing a woman who bought painting after painting, until Lucie finally asked why she was collecting so many. 鈥淪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, 鈥業 have so many people believing in me, I have to give it my best shot.鈥欌��

Lucie鈥檚 been painting full time for the last 16 years, but she鈥檚 remained true to her other passion of health, and also to making the world a better place.

鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 turn my back on what I know. I鈥檓 painfully aware of the need out there, so I donate a percentage of what I make.鈥�

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.

鈥淚 still miss working in the clinic. That鈥檚 why I fundraise,鈥� she says, and pauses. 鈥淪elling the clinics was the hardest thing I鈥檝e ever done. I had two passions, and this one wouldn鈥檛 be denied. This is really what I feel I was meant to do. It just took me a while to give myself permission.鈥�

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

鈥淢y mom is my hero,鈥� she says with a heartfelt conviction that makes me want to hug my own mom. 鈥淚 had a mom who really encouraged my passion. She wanted me to follow my heart.鈥�

She adds with a laugh, 鈥淪he was actually more excited at my gallery opening than when I got my doctorate.鈥�

鈥淲hen you鈥檙e fortunate enough to do what you love the most, and people appreciate it, it鈥檚 a dream come true,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t feels so good to be in harmony.鈥�

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