Art for art’s sake – Margo Petroff, graphic designer and illustrator – The Crag and Canyon

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Margo Petroff loves creating art on the computer.

She has been freelancing as a graphic designer and illustrator for the past five years.

“I also paint as a hobby, using mostly watercolour or gouache,” Petroff said.

Petroff grew up in Canmore and she has lived there most of her life.

“I spent some time away while attending university and spent a year living in Seoul,” Petroff said. “I will admit that Canmore is a hard place to leave!”

She does her work mostly with software found in Adobe Creative Cloud.

“Recently I bought an iPad Pro and I have been having a lot of fun drawing on Procreate,” Petroff said. “I don’t have any formal art training but I have a Bachelor of Communications from Mount Royal University and a minor in Art History.”

She also works in Canmore.

“I am a Gallery Attendant and Digital Media Associate at the Carter-Ryan Gallery,” Petroff said. “It’s been very fulfilling and inspiring to work with such a creative and highly skilled team.”

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Her parents are her mother Joan and her father, who is singer-songerwriter Mike Petroff. They also live in Canmore.

“I honestly have no musical abilities but it has been so great to watch my father follow his dreams! I’m very proud of him,” Petroff said. “My twin brother Jeremy comes and goes but is currently living in Calgary.”

She said that she’s always gravitated towards visual arts and graphic design seemed like a good way to merge functionality with creativity.

Recently, Margo Petroff volunteered her talents to help the Bow Valley SPCA Portraits of Love Valentine’s Day fundraiser. She was the professional artist who painted pet portraits along with a group of amateur artists who also painted portraits of people’s pets. It was a fun surprise for pet owners to get a painting done by Petroff, or a painting or drawing done by a volunteer.

“Meghan Keelan, BVSPCA manager, approached me for the project. I absolutely love every single one, (of the amateur pet portraits),” Petroff said. “In the past, I have done a few pet portraits for my friends and it’s always been a lot of fun.”

Some of her favourite contemporary designers include Lauren Hom, Jessica Hische, and Steffi Lynn.

“One of my favourite local artists is my friend Kerry Langois,” Petroff said. “I’m inspired by anyone who is striving to make every day as fun as it can be and anyone with a strong work ethic – which this community is filled with. My friends and family included!”

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Petroff lived in Korea for a year in 2018.

“While I was there I taught English at a kindergarten,” Petroff said. “I miss my time living in Korea every single day and I am itching to go on another big trip. But, I have been more than happy to simply enjoy our own backyard in the meantime.”

Her interests include hiking and skiing.

“In the summer I run a few times a week,” Petroff said. “This winter I invested in a pair of cross country skis, which has been really fun. Last year I took a pottery class at artsPlace, which I hope to do more of in the future.”

She attended Canmore Collegiate High School.

“I love the community and the people here, and having so many outdoor activities so close to home,” she said. “The pretty sunrises don’t hurt either!”

For more on her art please visit margopetroff.com or visit her on Instagram @margssssss.