• Shattered Studio, Visual Artist, Local Artist, Art Festival, Russel ON
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From Cyber Operator to Community Artist: The Story of “Pix”

From Cyber Operator to Community Artist: The Story of “Pix”

Andrea Pixley, known to most simply as “Pix”, is a retired Cyber Operator (Corporal), having served with the Canadian Forces Network Operations Centre (CFNOC) until November 4, 2024. Throughout her military career, her creativity followed her everywhere: from designing tattoo flash art that now lives permanently on several comrades’ skin, to crafting vector illustrations for military presentations.

Artisan: Andrea Pixley Simard

Artisan Specialty: Illustrator & Visual Artist

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About Andrea

But long before military life, Pix was already an artist. "I've been creating art as long as I can remember," she says — with a deep love for illustration inspired early on by comic books. Over time, that passion grew to encompass a wide range of media: traditional drawing, digital art, 3D printing, and now even experimental painted works that blend new technologies with classic styles.

Her Creations

Her art studio, Shattered Obsidian Studio, was born from both resilience and humour — the initials “SOS” a playful nod to the tough times that inspired its creation. The idea came to her while posted to the Transition Unit as she navigated life with PTSD. "I need to be doing something or I go squirrelly," she jokes, "and my husband often finds things in states of partial repair... I will neither confirm nor deny that I have been banned from using the chainsaw!"

True to her nature, Pix has also made giving back a core focus of her studio. One of her causes is Kozy Kritters, a rescue from which she adopted her two beloved tabby cats — her loyal in-studio "HR team."

Pix continues to share her art and community spirit through Shattered Obsidian Studio, always exploring new ways to express creativity and support others along the way.

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Kozy Kritters Rescue