Embers Of Hope, 25″ x 49″ sculpted limestone and acrylic. 

True Grit

by Deena Dolan

Using acrylics and texture to disrupt the purity of the blank canvas, Candace Louise Donna Fritsch creates loosely interpreted landscapes and warm contemporary designs. 

As a kid, making snowballs was a task Candace Louise Donna Fritsch took seriously—but not for throwing. Oh no. Her snowy chunks were carefully carved and crafted into small works of art. Come spring, her artist’s eye scanned random sticks, stones, bits of driftwood, and various other textured ground materials that caught her interest. These would be collected, joined, and woven together into multi-faceted sculptures. In other words, Candace has always been an imaginative creator. 

“Art has always been my connection to the world and to myself—grounding me through the chapters of my life,” she reflects. 

Candace describes herself as having been a somewhat solitary child. “I grew up as an introvert, often seeking peace and solace in the quiet, overlooked corners of life. Raised in the countryside, nature became a constant source of nourishment for my soul, its stillness offering a sense of comfort and belonging. In moments when I felt overwhelmed, I turned to the natural world, where I found both solace and strength. The trees, standing firm in their quiet endurance, became powerful symbols of my own inner resilience. Like the windswept pine, which is bent but not broken, they remind me that strength doesn’t always roar; sometimes, it is silent, steadfast, and enduring. In the face of life’s challenges, these natural monuments offered me a profound sense of peace and a quiet reminder that, like them, I could weather the storms.” 

Candace Louise Donna Fritsch stands with, Haze of Clarity, 48″ x 48″ sculpted limestone.

And storms did indeed happen. At the age of 22, Candace found herself alone—a single mother of two baby boys—when her husband abandoned her. She made a conscious decision to not let the pain define her. With her world upended—hurt, embarrassed, and feeling like a failure—wallowing wasn’t an option. Victimhood has simply never been part of her outlook. Through hard work, long hours, and resolutely doing whatever needed to be done, she managed to purchase a small home for her little clan. For thirteen years, that was her world. Art was her outlet—always her escape at the end of her day. 

“Painting was and still is my sanctuary—a way to express what I couldn’t put into words,” she shares. 

Today, Candace is engaged to Wes Reick. “Wes and I crossed paths in the fall of 2018, and from that moment on, he has been my steady guiding light. His belief in me and my art has never wavered. He has been there every step of the way, offering not only emotional support but also practical encouragement that has helped me grow both personally and professionally. His constant presence in my life has been a source of inspiration, and I can’t imagine where I would be without him. I want to emphasize just how much I owe to the unwavering love, support, and encouragement of my fiancé. Without him by my side, I truly wouldn’t be where I am today.” 

Wild Wanderer, 24″ x 24″ sculpted limestone.

Wearing several hats, Candace is a partner in a home construction business, helping with design choices and selections of finishing materials. She is also the bookkeeper, taking care of the business side of things, including accounts payable. She finds the two careers work beautifully together since, in between housing projects, there are abundant hours that can be used productively for her artistic ventures. While she and Wes were completing their own house, a bucket of leftover drywall presented itself. Frugal and with a visionary idea in her mind, she began experimenting. Initially, she simply placed portions of the material on canvas, shaping it and transforming it into interesting scenes. She absolutely loved the textured result—except for one small problem: the drywall wouldn’t stick to the canvas. Undaunted, she set about recreating the look. After much trial and error and many wasted canvases, she landed on a successful mixture of limestone ash combined with starch and water. Almost glue-like in consistency, this solved the sticking obstacle and became a turning point. 

Once she applies multiple layers of the mixture onto her canvas and it has dried, Candace begins to shape and transform it using various tools and techniques she has developed—carving, sanding, and refining. During the process, subtle touches of colour are introduced using acrylic paints, and often, the steps are repeated until the piece ultimately meets her vision. 

Layers of Summit, 17″ x 42″, sculpted limestone, acrylic and ink.

There is an interesting family connection to a Canadian artistic legend: Candace’s great-great-grandmother, Louise Thomson Henry, was the elder sister of iconic Canadian artist Tom Thomson. The hard-working farming family was greatly influenced by their mother’s interest in literature and music and had a varied library with books on archaeology, geology, astronomy, and poetry. Most family members played instruments, sang, or both—and almost all sketched. Born in 1873, Louise is remembered by the family as having been an incredibly talented painter in her own right. Of interest, history records a letter written by Louise to Blodwen Davis, where she recalled Tom Thomson as having been delicate, with several attacks of congestion and inflammation of the lungs. Because of this condition, Tom was encouraged to wander freely throughout the countryside, enjoying long, uninterrupted hours of fishing and hunting—always accompanied by his sketchpad and pencils. How lovely that this much-loved family pastime has come full circle in Candace Louise’s life and especially in her art. 

Shredding Peaks, 17″ x 17″, sculpted limestone.

When Candace speaks of her work, her raw honesty is beautifully on display. Palpable emotion flows through her creations, intertwining past, present, and future. “Creating art is not merely about producing something visually pleasing; it is about cultivating a deep, personal connection—both with ourselves and with the world that surrounds us. Through the act of creation, I am reminded that, regardless of the burdens we bear, we all have an inner strength capable of carrying us through even the toughest times. Each piece I create serves as a reflection of resilience, a testament to the power within us to rise above. My hope is that my work will not only inspire others but also remind them that, even in the darkest of moments, we are capable of profound transformation and growth. It goes beyond just an expression on a canvas; it is a declaration of strength and endurance—a reminder that, no matter what challenges life may present, we have the ability to overcome and thrive.” 

Humble and charming in her demeanour, Candace Louise is only just beginning to accept the emerging notoriety her art is garnering. You will find her work on display and available for purchase at Studio Ciel in Collingwood and Kultiq Studio in Kitchener as part of the Paula White Diamond Gallery. E 

For more information please visit: candacelouiseart.square.site