Andre Haines is painting the South Shore one scene at a time
It's not unusual to see multidisciplined artist Andre Haines with his easel painting a scene somewhere along the South Shore.
“I love to go out and paint on location. It's my favourite form of practicing that kind of art,” said Haines in an interview. “I paint up and down the South Shore.”
A lot of times Haines' paintings sell while they are still on the easel.
“Someone will come along and like it, or have a connection to it and will buy it right off my easel,” he said. Those that don't sell on location are sold through his Facebook page.
“I used to do the gallery thing … but I don't exhibit anymore. I let people find me through my Facebook page,” said Haines. “I'm kind of like the little guy. I'm not a big gallery guy whose paintings go for thousands of dollars. I like to paint a lot and sell them because I want them to be in everybody's houses.”
Haines describes his art as contemporary impressionism. He averages anywhere from
250 to 500 paintings a year. In 2020, he had put the finishing brush strokes on number 286 by mid-December.
Haines was born in Toronto, “but that's not my fault,” he says. He moved to Yarmouth when he was around 12 years old, where his family roots run deep and have left an artistic touch in many places. Frost Park in downtown Yarmouth is named after Haines' grandfather Charles Sydney Frost, a First World War veteran with a distinguished service record. Charles went on to become president of the Bank of Nova Scotia.
Haines' father Alex Gigeroff, who was also an artist, painted a lot of murals in downtown Yarmouth and in local schools. His mother Vyvyan Frost was a musician, a pianist, and an actress. “So that's where I got my love of the arts,” he said.
Haines' career spans many art disciplines. He started out studying music and theatre.
After attending Mount Allison and Acadia universities, Haines went to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City where he spent two years studying and working in New York.
“I came back and started my career in musical theatre and did a lot of television and film and have written a lot of music for the theatre, for film as well television … then I took a break and taught at Acadia University for four years – the musical theatre program,” said Haines.
“I also taught at the Conservatory of Performing Arts in Halifax." He was also an artistic director at Th'YARC in Yarmouth, among other things, before turning his focus to painting about 20 years ago.
“Then I got in the book Contemporary Artists of Nova Scotia and my paintings really started to take off,” said Haines.
Haines has painted all over the world, starting about 20 years ago during his travels.
“At first I had a little sketch book. Then it turned into a sketch book and pastels and now, when I go, I have a tiny little suitcase for clothes and a great big suitcase for all my art supplies, brushes, and easel,” said Haines, adding he plans to resume travelling and painting once COVID travel bans are lifted.
Haines currently resides in Liverpool where he has served as artist in residence several times for both the town and the Astor Theatre. The first time was about seven years ago when the Astor Theatre was preparing to present the musical Les Misérables.
“They invited me to come down. I'm also a musical director and a pianist, they invited me to come down and do the musical direction and score for them and that's how I got to know the people here. Then I came again by invitation of the town for artist in residence for two weeks and I stayed for the year. That's how I fell in love with the people in Liverpool,” said Haines.
Haines recently participated in our question and answer session:
Q. What's your favourite place in the world?
A. That's a tough one. I would have to say Sicily.
Q. What would people be surprised to learn about you?
A. That most of my time is spent being very introverted.
Q. What is the hardest thing you've ever done?
A. Having to get over abuse.
Q. Can you describe one experience that changed your life?
A. I'm dyslexic and I couldn't read or write and my Grade 7 teacher at Yarmouth Junior High, Betty Bernard, spent every day with me after school teaching me to read and write. She was a great lady. She changed my life, and Linda Coakley, the drama teacher, and John Hood, the music teacher. Those people were so important to me. If it wasn't for them, I would have not gotten through it.
Q. What's your greatest indulgence?
A. Beautiful paint pigments. I love to splurge sometimes and buy really gorgeous, gorgeous, unusual paint pigments. That's why my paintings are so colourful and bright.
Q. What is your favourite movie or book?
A. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse.
Q. How do you like to relax? A. By cooking and being with my cats.
Q. What are you reading or watching right now?
A. I'm reading a book about paint colours.
Q. How would you describe your personal fashion statement?
A. I'm pretty much a jeans and a T-shirt guy. Frenchy's fashion at its best.
Q. What is your most treasured possession?
A. My paintbrushes.
Q. What physical or personality trait are you most grateful to a parent for?
A. My father's love of acceptance of everybody.
Q. What three people would join you for your dream dinner party?
A. The table would have room for hundreds.
Q. What is your best quality, and what is your worst quality?
A. My best is that I'm can be kind and generous and my worst quality is I can sometimes be a hothead too.
Q. What's your biggest regret?
A. I don't live with any regrets. I make mistakes and I make apologies but I don't have any regrets.