Fast forward to the summer of 2022 and Maple Leafs right winger Mitch Marner has visited Pietens’ art studio in London, Ont. The London born-and-raised artist has decided to make it a full-time commitment, but his journey to becoming a professional artist was far from straightforward. Following his father’s advice from childhood to pursue any other career beyond art, Pietens was drawn to physiotherapy by a personal experience. He got his master’s degree in physiotherapy from Western University in 2014, passed the licensing exam and practised for three years, but eventually realized it wasn’t working for him. It was a life-changing moment for someone who had always been told that being an artist wasn’t realistic.

Source: thestar October 22, 2022 03:31 UTC