Make Art, Have Fun, Feel Good
Dr. Lemco’s Creative Club, Baby, It’s Good and Nice
Dr. Lemco's Creative Club events kept coming up in my feed. Invitations to paint, pictures, folks having fun, friends posting, proud of (or laughing at) their resulting pieces. And it wasn't just random people; it was the comedians I hold in high regard, people I can speak to frankly, people I trust when they say I think you’d like this.
After his events, they would still be talking about it next time I saw them; laughing, bonding. And I thought well shit, these aren't just fun things to do, these are things that are enriching the existing community while building a whole new one. I promised myself I would get around to it. My procrastination is awful, and my reluctance to step outside of my comfort zone is annoying, not least of all to myself.
I don't know Tyler very well, but I've run into him a few times. One day his puppy was tiny, and the next time I saw him he was a gentle giant. Big smile, great vibes. Tyler too. He feels like exactly the person who should be running arts events: open, kind, curious, impassioned, and ready to laugh. When I heard the Creative Club had moved into an actual space, turning the metaphor tangible, I knew I had to get there ASAP.
On de Maisonneuve West, right by Vendôme metro, sits the landmark building with the engraving of the Native Canadian in full headdress. It’s the logo for the Associated Screen News of Canada, which was the largest private film production company at the time. Built in the 1950s, it was inspired by Hollywood studios, and provided the training ground for many of the filmmakers who would later join the NFB. It seems fitting that this is the spot Dr. Lemco's Creative Club now calls home.
I had no idea what to expect (other than good people and a fun time). Stepping into the entranceway, it was immediately cozy -- not cozy small, cozy like ahhhh, I could stay here all day. Paintings were all over, and I felt the rush I used to get in elementary school; the excitement of knowing I'd have ink on my hands when I left…that something beautiful might happen.
The space, opened only a few weeks ago, looks perfectly lived in. He somehow managed to speed run the part where you slowly gather things and figure out where they go, creating a feast for the eyes with art, vinyls, an amazing collection of books from art to vitamins. A Grace Slick record hangs on the wall next to a Steve Martin comedy album, next to an electric guitar. There's even an OG ‘70s copy of Ram Dass’ “Be Here Now”, printed the same time as the one I treasure. This isn't a spot for art snobs, it's a cultural feast of stuff to be inspired by.
“Who’s Ram Dass?” my boyfriend asked, a question I'm always eager to answer. Soon, spurred by another conversation, someone else asked who Dennis Rodman is, and that's always a fun rabbit hole to dive into.
This wasn't a workshop, it was a gathering. Person after person entered, receiving the equivalent collective greetings as Norm did when he walked into Cheers. Snacks and drinks showed up. One guest had baked a chocolate banana bread for the occasion, and heated it up in the oven on site so it was warm and melty. Perfection. Music played while pro-wrestling was projected onto the big screen. I was caught in my head, uncertain what to do with myself, and my hands, both literal and proverbial. There's never been a more perfect place to have that problem: paper was already laid out on the tables alongside acrylic markers and colored pencils. When in doubt, doodle.
Friends caught up on the couch, dep and coffee runs were initiated. Looking at all the eye candy -- the fake flowers that twisted around the exposed pipes, the sparkly lights -- I tried to register every detail that was helping to create the impeccable vibes. No one thing could take the credit; the place already has a soul. Behind the projection screen, even more paintings hung unseen. With the screen out of the way, he’ll have room for gallery style events when the time comes (and it will come).
When I was asked to pass a pencil, I was briefly giddy. When was the last time you passed someone a coloured pencil? It felt like years were stripped away; well practiced social filters crumbled, and my sense of faux adulthood was out of sight, waiting to pick me up later. I felt like the happiest five year old in town.
I caught up with Tyler by email to find out how we got here.
I really like how your sense of art is inclusive. You don't have to be good at it to do it, and multiple arts can be happening at the same time (which is so rare, and quite perfect). Have you always seen the arts as open to everyone? Have you always seen the interconnectedness of different arts?
Thanks! I think a far more valuable component to “good” art is a person’s ability to express freely and “play”, so to speak. Far more important than skill or talent or any technical knowhow (of which I have barely any). That’s why comfort and safety in the experience are of top priority, and what you’re making or how you’re making it is kind of irrelevant in my opinion. Inclusivity, I guess, is a byproduct of that. There is no “bad” art if you’re getting something out of doing it.
I’ve always been a creative person, spending the majority of my life and career up until this point as a writer and video producer, but I only picked up a paint brush about 8 years ago, and started comfortably calling myself an artist maybe 5 years ago. I guess that’s when my “art is open to everyone” attitude really developed, because I’m someone, and I don’t know what I’m doing, but I just started doing it. I never went to art school (unless YouTube tutorials count), but I’m a proud artist. So if I can do it, anybody can do it.
As far as the interconnectedness of different arts, I’m really big on multi-sensory experiences. Maybe it’s because everybody has ADHD now, but I actually find it helps me to focus when there’s other sights and sounds going on in the same environment. Now that I’m producing events, I’m excited to try different unique combinations, like a Movie Night Watch & Paint, a Stand-Up Comedy & Collage Party, or Live Music & Jewelry Making Workshop.
What's your favorite medium / realm to create in?
It’s constantly changing; I feel like I only really enjoy something if I’m terrible at it. Once I start getting the hang of something, I usually start subconsciously gravitating toward the next thing. My “artist journey” started with acrylic paints, which I recommend for anyone curious about dipping their toes into art. I’ve had a watercolour phase, an ink phase, a collage phase… Right now, I’m working primarily with oil paint. It feels like a real pro’s medium.
Acrylic paints are like driving a Honda Civic; even if you don’t know how to drive, with a bit of practice you can probably get the hang of it. And even seasoned drivers still appreciate a Civic. Oils, on the other hand, are F1 race cars. You have SO much control and SO much power, it’s actually overwhelming. I’ve done 7 or 8 oil paintings so far, and still feel totally out of my depths, which I very much enjoy.
Even before the physical Creative Club, you realized that people needed more art, and more community. Was there a moment that brought that to light for you, or was it something you always craved personally?
I think it’s something I’ve always tried to incorporate into whatever project I’m working on, to varying degrees. My last job was as producer and host of a talk show where I interviewed porn stars. When the adult website who hired me originally reached out for ideas, my initial pitch was “arts & crafts with porn stars”. We did a couple episodes of that, then switched it to “comedy segments with porn stars”, until they ultimately were like “how about you just interview them in a normal, conversational kinda way”. Funny enough, my job before that was as head writer for a children’s show, where I definitely incorporated a ton of arts & crafts activities and lessons.
Getting people engaged with their creativity has kinda always been my mission, but this Creative Club venture is my way of actually trying to build a business around it, not just getting hired by another client and trying to infuse it where I can.
Did you know from the start that you wanted a physical space?
No, the physical space came about through just trying and doing. Originally, when I started this whole “Dr Lemco’s Creative Club” project in September 2024, I thought it would be an online thing. My background is in producing web content, so I started by making art videos, interviewing people in the arts, doing livestreams, and writing articles. I figured the internet is where you can reach the most people, but after months and months of producing content full time, I was just spinning my tires. I wasn’t seeing any growth or interest, and I didn’t enjoy doing it.
So, June 2025 I produced my first in-person art event. I invited two comedian friends to join me as “co-hosts”, and together we yapped and painted with about 15 people at a cool cafe (Cafe Beardlington in Ville Emard) and had a blast. I knew right away that this was the route, so I pivoted and started booking more venues and trying to fill up the calendar. I did about 8 events between July and October, and each one was fun and full of learnings.
I realized quickly, though, that locking in venues and figuring out logistics and promotion of each unique event was taking up all of my time. I couldn’t handle more than 2-4 events per month, and wanted to be doing 2-4 per week. I also craved my own space, that I could set up and curate my own way, and where I could leave my art supplies rather than schlep them to every cafe/bar/restaurant, where I was a temporary guest and, at times, kind of an inconvenience to regular patrons.
It took 8 weeks to find the perfect place, another 6 weeks to renovate and get it set up and ready, and we officially opened the doors January 2026.
So much of being an artist is manifesting our beliefs and desires in the material world, but it's often daunting, confusing, or scary. How did you break through that and actually make the Club real?
Debt lol. I have a strong belief that people crave real, creative experiences, so I feel good about what I’m building, but it’s also definitely scary. When the aforementioned porn star talk show came to an end, my options were find a next gig or create my dream life. I figured, what else am I gonna do?
What's the Club's mission statement or goals you hope to reach?
I’ve been going with the motto, “make art, have fun, feel good”. That feels like a simple-to-understand yet powerfully effective formula that anybody can follow. My purpose in life is to connect with others, and myself, through artistic expression. So whether it’s through in-person events at the creative club, videos people watch & enjoy, or just being the gentle nudge you need to go get your own stuff and make something at home, I just want to help people make art, have fun, and feel good.
I assume all your friends and fans of your events were all for you getting a space. Did you have anyone in your circle who was pessimistic about your plan? Who tried to discourage you? What did you say to them, or how did you manage not to internalize that message?
I definitely had push-back from some friends, which I appreciated. Some of my more business-minded friends told me I’d be better off doing fewer, larger events, or that I should start by charging more, or that it would be foolish to sign a lease when there’s so many venues that would be happy to host. And they’re probably totally right. Getting the venue was less of a business decision and more of a “this is how I want to spend my life” decision. Sure, it’s probably smarter to do less events that generate more money for me, but I want to do the events. I feel like an athlete who just wants to play as many games as I can right now. I want to keep events intimate because I want to actually meet people and get to know them and get them to make art. Also, selfishly, I want to be locked in to my own “making art” time as much as I can, because when I’m not hosting events I can so easily get lost in admin laptop work and forget to take my own medicine.
Check out upcoming events at www.drlem.co and follow @drlemco on IG.
