Nestled in the picturesque landscape of Peterborough, Ontario—a region rich with lakes, rivers, and rolling hills at the southern tip of the Canadian Shield,
Maura Joy Lustig draws inspiration from the natural world around her.
Her artistic journey began at the tender age of 6 when her parents, recognizing her passion for drawing, enrolled her in her first art class with the renowned artist Jackson Pollock. This early exposure ignited a lifelong love affair with art.
At 8, Maura studied pastel painting at the Women's Art Institute in Toronto, relishing frequent visits to the Royal Ontario Museum with her class. Her artistic pursuits flourished throughout high school, briefly extending into her university years before she pivoted to focus on modern languages.
While creativity was always encouraged, her parents dismissed the idea of her following art as a career path. However, Maura's artistic flame continued to burn brightly and years later, she rekindled her formal art education at OCAD (Ontario College of Art and Design).
Between 2004 and 2010, Maura's artistic horizons expanded dramatically. As an artist, she participated in an art retreat in France, showcased her paintings in Italy, and attended numerous conferences, workshops, and art shows throughout the USA. This led to her hosting a wellness retreat in France.
Today, Maura's diverse passions—health, travel, painting, reading, and writing—seamlessly blend into her dual careers as a transformational wellness coach and a painter. Her holistic approach to life and art resonates deeply with her clients, who find inspiration in her commitment to positive thinking, overall wellness, and creative expression.
As both an artist and a coach, Maura joyfully inspires, motivates, and empowers others. She guides individuals not only to improve their health and create lives they love but also to give voice to their innate gifts through creative expression. Maura's journey is a testament to the power of lifelong learning, the importance of following one's passions, and the transformative impact of embracing creativity in all aspects of life.
Maura Joy Lustig draws inspiration from the natural world around her.
Her artistic journey began at the tender age of 6 when her parents, recognizing her passion for drawing, enrolled her in her first art class with the renowned artist Jackson Pollock. This early exposure ignited a lifelong love affair with art.
At 8, Maura studied pastel painting at the Women's Art Institute in Toronto, relishing frequent visits to the Royal Ontario Museum with her class. Her artistic pursuits flourished throughout high school, briefly extending into her university years before she pivoted to focus on modern languages.
While creativity was always encouraged, her parents dismissed the idea of her following art as a career path. However, Maura's artistic flame continued to burn brightly and years later, she rekindled her formal art education at OCAD (Ontario College of Art and Design).
Between 2004 and 2010, Maura's artistic horizons expanded dramatically. As an artist, she participated in an art retreat in France, showcased her paintings in Italy, and attended numerous conferences, workshops, and art shows throughout the USA. This led to her hosting a wellness retreat in France.
Today, Maura's diverse passions—health, travel, painting, reading, and writing—seamlessly blend into her dual careers as a transformational wellness coach and a painter. Her holistic approach to life and art resonates deeply with her clients, who find inspiration in her commitment to positive thinking, overall wellness, and creative expression.
As both an artist and a coach, Maura joyfully inspires, motivates, and empowers others. She guides individuals not only to improve their health and create lives they love but also to give voice to their innate gifts through creative expression. Maura's journey is a testament to the power of lifelong learning, the importance of following one's passions, and the transformative impact of embracing creativity in all aspects of life.
Maura's personal experience of stepping away from painting for a period and then reconnecting with it also provides valuable insights that she weaves into her workshops. Maura says "I deeply believe that being enveloped by your art is essential to igniting your creative flame. it's like walking into a magnificent gallery, recognizing your accomplishments and encouraging you to strive for greatness."
Maura's new workshops for watercolor and acrylic are conducted in her home. Here's a slideshow :)
Maura's new workshops for watercolor and acrylic are conducted in her home. Here's a slideshow :)
what participants of earlier encaustic workshops said:
- "I appreciate Maura's expertise and calm manner. It's a very relaxed, safe & comfortable space to play and create! Yes, I want to learn more techniques with Encaustic" Sandra
- "What a great, inspiring experience with Maura's leadership!" Pat
- "I would like to attend more workshops. I'm interested in learning more!" Becky
- "This was my second encaustic workshop with Maura. I enjoyed experimenting with the heat gun and having the opportunity to try out a more structured painting this time." Pamela
- "I attended Maura's studio tour and was very impressed with her work. Although I don't consider myself very artistic I was curious enough to attend her introductory art class & appreciated the experience. I completed a small project & was pleasantly surprised with the outcome - yes, I even show it to my friends. I would recommend this class, it was fun, and Maura is an inspiring teacher." Janette S.
- “Maura is a wonderful teacher and her introduction to encaustic painting was a great experience. We had lots of fun and being in her studio and her beautiful home was really inspiring. Maura has a passion and great talent that she shares with patience and detail. She just wants you to have fun in the process! It was a great afternoon!” Cathy D
- "Hi everyone. Just wanted to say thanks for a fun time yesterday! Maura - thank you for your patience in showing me some of the basics of encaustic painting. Your work is beautiful - you are extremely talented in this art. I am definitely interested in another class where we can create a specific picture of sorts using encaustic painting." Joan L.
Here's an earlier video tour (before Covid) of her former art studio, which was devoted to encaustic painting :)
“Creativity takes courage" Henri Matisse
