My painting was inspired by Bertram Brooker. He was known as the first Canadian to exhibit abstract art. He used his art to capture the magical qualities of music in his paintings. In his abstract work, he utilized bright colors to make the painting have more meaning. I tried to incorporate that in my painting. However, my painting does not symbolize music, it symbolizes emotion. In my painting, it shows an abstract background, with the main subject looking up towards the sky with a peaceful expression. It is in the sense that she knows that she has the divine power in herself to do anything. Her future is symbolized by the bright and colourful abstract background. As artists we need to remember that our art can be a reflection of ourselves or our future. That is, if we look towards our future with passion and hope, we will know that our lives can be successful with aspiration, passion, and hard work.

–Elizabeth Oluwasekemi Enoch (Grade 8, Bliss Carman Middle School, Fredericton, New Brunswick)

Manitoba-based painter Bertram Brooker (1888–1955) was one of the first artists to exhibit abstract work in Canada. His groundbreaking approach to artmaking was driven by the affective qualities of music and literature.