Paola Syme

Artist

Paola Syme

A west coast artist and illustrator who enjoys creating digital work the old-fashioned way (without AI). Using repeating patterns with contrasting scales I express interconnections between nature, time, space and the modern world.

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Selling art in White Rock, 1994

Evolution

Growing up

I came to Canada from the Netherlands with my parents when I was a baby. I grew up in Surrey, BC and loved to draw. I took every art class I could in school including continuing studies classes outside school hours. My passion was watercolour and I spent at least one summer in my late teens selling art work at White Rock pier as part of their Art Walk program.


Artwork on display in Vancouver, 2001

Early Days

1998-2008

While training to be a graphic designer I learned how to draw vector images with bold simplicity. I made glicée prints framed in light boxes and displayed them at galleries and lounges across Vancouver. Themes ranged from observations of the consumer world to existential questions, and escape into nature.

A publisher saw my work at an art show and offered me a book deal. From there, I’ve had over a dozen books published under the pen name Paola Opal, including the Simply Small series.

Mid-Career

2009-2024

Mid-career was heavily focused on my graphic design profession, creating visual designs—on time and on budget—for a wide variety of projects including themed attractions, corporate marketing and more. I also taught and coordinated graphic design courses at Emily Carr University and Vancouver Film School.

With AI making graphic design as I know it a relic of the past, I have made the move to return to my first love, art.

Public art installation, Surrey, 2024

Recent Works

2024-Present

My recent works are a joyful expression of the interconnectedness of all things, using bold lines and repeating patterns at different scales with local west coast themes. I use a mixture of traditional and digital media to create art prints as well as 3D printed designs that are hand-painted. I still do the occasional watercolour too!

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