Jane and Imogen Milner pose at their front window Thursday with their dog Milee.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
Stuck inside without much of an audience, Imogen Milner found a new canvas for her artistry: the front window.
The six-year-old Hatter is part of a new trend during the COVID-19 pandemic, connecting with those who drive or walk by their house. Whether it’s with paint, markers, paper or anything else they can find, art is being made everywhere people are self-isolating or quarantined.
“It’s very weird times, so what do you do? You paint your windows,” said Imogen’s mom, Jane. “When we got up (Wednesday) and saw the snow everywhere, I was like ‘ugh, we need colour.’
“It works.”
Bright colours highlight the Milner’s window, with a rainbow, flowers and the sun.
According to someone who paints windows for a living, you might as well go big and bold.
“Bright and joyful captures the eye a lot more than just wording does,” said Christy Vince, better known locally as Paintergirl. “Don’t be afraid to use the full window: Bigger is always better.”
Vince has started giving free painting classes via the Paintergirl Facebook page, as her in-person ones are all cancelled. When it comes to windows, acrylic and tempera paints work the best if you want something that’s going to last and be more visible, and she notes white is the best colour if you’re including any words.
The most important thing, however, is how it makes you feel.
“I think it’s a wonderful way to brighten up our neighbourhoods in an otherwise dark and scary time,” said Lindsay Poloni in a text message to the News. “That’s why we did it, we wanted to contribute something positive to our community and show the kids a fun way to spread joy to others.”
Poloni’s family – husband Antony and kids Sophia and Dominic – worked together to make a new dog house for their pup Cooper. But this is no ordinary dog house. The window is decorated as one, as Cooper always sits there looking out anyways.
Groups are getting into the act, too. The South East Hill Neighbourhood Association encouraged residents to put hearts up in their windows, and the response has been impressive.
“It allows families or other kids to go out, not in groups, but walk around the neighbourhood and see how many hearts they can find,” said association president Jase Cowan. “It’s a way for people to get outside, get fresh air and exercise but not have to do it in groups.”
There are social media groups dedicated to the idea, including a global Easter egg hunt that’s grown to 123,000 as of Thursday.
“I’ve even seen Canadian flags with the words ‘We got this.'” said Vince.
When you’re done or need a blank canvas, Vince recommends spraying with water, then using a putty edge or even a credit card to scrape away thick paints. Soap and water are always and option but need more elbow grease.
The Poloni’s already have plans for an Easter theme in April. The Milner’s? After painting rocks earlier in the week, the window “just kind of happened.” They’d watched the Paintergirl live stream earlier in the day.
“I asked Imogen ‘how do you think our window makes people feel?'” said Jane Milner. “She said ‘happy.'”
