Artist Biography
Mandy Higgs has worn many different faces throughout her artistic career, but now, at the age of 40, she has truly found that happiness, joy, gratitude, and human connection are her guiding forces.
Her professional practice officially began in 2011, but her foundation was built between 2008 and 2010 while working alongside professional artists at a well-known art supply shop. Without a formal arts education at the time, Mandy felt extremely privileged to have access to the skill sets, opinions, and years of knowledge shared by these amazing women from all different backgrounds. Their mentorship helped shape her into the artist she is today, a technical foundation she later refined through specialized studies at the Haliburton School of the Arts. For a long time, her subject matter explored Halloween primitive art, as well as folklore-inspired owls and creatures.
Today, creating from her studio, The Open Easel, near the rapids of Port Sydney, Mandy's colour palette has completely transitioned from dramatic and moody to pure joy, vibrant pastels, and inspiration. Her palette now resembles a marmalade cascade of rainbow colours, filling her canvases with bright, expressive energy. She is dedicated to creating art that resonates on a deep cellular level of high vibes, good times, and the pursuit of happiness.
"I want people to walk into their room or space and feel immediate serotonin pulsing through their brains when they see the colour cascade marmalade forest in front of them that I’ve created," says Mandy.
Looking ahead to 2027, Mandy’s subject matter is returning to the roots of where she started as a brand-new artist. She is extremely excited to debut a new wildlife series featuring crazy coloured moose, vibrant bears, the common loon, and other Muskoka wildlife, all rendered in her signature joyful pastels. Deeply proud to be Canadian, her profound love for the country and its natural beauty is the driving force behind this upcoming collection.
As an art instructor, she believes that everyone has the potential to create and the innate ability to express joy in this world. Describing herself as a "social media nomad" ...a term she coined when she packed up her digital easel, very tired of Meta, Mandy values genuine community over fast-paced algorithms. While she still loves to share her creative journey through intentional spaces like Substack and YouTube, you will mainly find her showing up in person. A proud member of Muskoka Arts & Crafts (MAC), Mandy can be found throughout Muskoka sharing joy, light, inspiration, and most importantly, self-acceptance. Wherever you’ve come from, and wherever we have landed on this planet, Mandy believes that human experience, support, and connection are the most important things we have.