'I use it as a tool': Vancouver painter Tyler Toews on his art career and living with schizophrenia
Toews says that accepting his mental illness has helped him find creative fulfilment
"I had a scholarship to go to art school in Chicago. It was my dream. It just felt like it was kind of torn out from under me. That really broke my heart. I couldn't find a proper job, couldn't make enough money, I didn't get family support. I ended up homeless and mentally ill and just...yeah."
Vancouver painter Tyler Toews was diagnosed with schizophrenia at 19. But despite what he calls the "frustration" of living with mental illness, in time he was able to find creative fulfilment.
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"I use it as a tool. That's where the creative vibe comes into play — intuition."
"I ended up just accepting it and trying to make it my own way."
See more of Tyler Toew's work below or on his Instagram.
Art Minute is a CBC Arts series taking you inside the minds of Canadian artists to hear what makes them tick and the ideas behind their work.