“A Day in the Life” with Calgary artist David Bacque

January 20, 2021 Admin Arts, Visual Arts

David Bacque only recently wandered into becoming a digital artist. Trained as a professional geologist, he found himself laid-off from a major oil company in 2015. With his first baby on the way and a crumbling geology job market in Alberta, he was apprehensive about what his future would hold. A year after his first child, Benjamin, was born, David became a full-time stay-at-home dad. Coincidently, he was also the owner of a new (used) camera and an Instagram account. David casually began to share his experience as a doting, emotionally exhausted, and somewhat isolated, but always a funny father with his small Instagram following.

By 2017, casual Instagram-ing no longer interested David and his analytical and innovative mind craved something more stimulating to portray his “life with benjamin” experience. David delved into the world of photoshop and video editing, teaching himself (in the evening) how to use the programs through YouTube and blogs. Soon after, he began creating surreal, photoshopped images and videos of his fatherhood journey. With increasingly interesting photos and relatable comedy, David’s Instagram following grew.

By early 2019, all of David’s “lifestyle” images had been taken over by increasingly complex photoshopped images and professional quality videos of his daily dad experiences. By this time, David was actively being sought out to generate social media content for brands. He was rapidly increasing his photoshop and videography skills, as well as heavily leaning into his right-brain, something he wasn’t used to doing as a scientist. Oh, and he became the father of two!

David’s initial creative passion stemmed from his desire to advocate for the rarely heard of and highly underrepresented stay-at-home father. He actively contributed to articles, campaigns and generated abundant social media content supporting and highlighting fathers’ importance as primary caregivers. More recently, though, David has become a genuine artist, driven to create beautiful, captivating, and amusing images we can all relate to. We are all waiting on the edges of our seats to see where his imagination (and highly skilled photoshopping) will take him next.

My lovely family. Wife Krista. Son Benjamin (5). Daughter Eva (2), and myself.
My lovely family. Wife Krista. Son Benjamin (5). Daughter Eva (2), and myself.
My day always starts with the kids waking us up with the sort of energy that I can only achieve by drinking several coffee cups. Once I've had a few cups of coffee, I am ready to tackle the day.
My day always starts with the kids waking us up with the sort of energy that I can only achieve by drinking several coffee cups. Once I’ve had a few cups of coffee, I am ready to tackle the day.
It's usually at this stage of the day I convince myself that I'll get lots of work done and take care of my children. Working lasts anywhere from 5 minutes to 7 minutes if I'm lucky.
It’s usually at this stage of the day I convince myself that I’ll get lots of work done and take care of my children. Working lasts anywhere from 5 minutes to 7 minutes if I’m lucky.
Once I've given up on the idea of working during the day, we usually try to get outside and enjoy the outdoors. As any parent probably knows, kids always seem calmer and more in their element when outside exploring. It's these outings and adventures that inspire my art. I use them as inspiration in conjunction with the fantastic stories and imaginative play scenarios that my son and my daughter more recently come up with.
Once I’ve given up on the idea of working during the day, we usually try to get outside and enjoy the outdoors. As any parent probably knows, kids always seem calmer and more in their element when outside exploring. It’s these outings and adventures that inspire my art. I use them as inspiration in conjunction with the fantastic stories and imaginative play scenarios that my son and my daughter more recently come up with.
When we can't get outside, we often make games that involve cardboard, tape, and paint. It always amazes me at how imaginative games and stories can become when built around something as simple as a box. Imagination from simple things is something I try to add to my images. I mean, there isn't anything too exciting about watching children or a simple cardboard box. However, when you take the time to view it through a young child's eyes, the possibilities are endless. That's what I tried to capture in this image.
When we can’t get outside, we often make games that involve cardboard, tape, and paint. It always amazes me at how imaginative games and stories can become when built around something as simple as a box. Imagination from simple things is something I try to add to my images. I mean, there isn’t anything too exciting about watching children or a simple cardboard box. However, when you take the time to view it through a young child’s eyes, the possibilities are endless. That’s what I tried to capture in this image.
I also draw inspiration from the more significant events during the year, Halloween, Easter, and Christmas. For this image, I was trying to find a balance between the excitement and the chaoticness of Christmas.
I also draw inspiration from the more significant events during the year, Halloween, Easter, and Christmas. For this image, I was trying to find a balance between the excitement and the chaoticness of Christmas.
Halloween is another time of year that I love when it comes to finding inspiration for images. This year we added the masks and thought, why not have fun with them and incorporate them into our costumes.
Halloween is another time of year that I love when it comes to finding inspiration for images. This year we added the masks and thought, why not have fun with them and incorporate them into our costumes.
Eventually, my children go to sleep, and it's this time of day that I can focus on any work that I need to do and create my images.
Eventually, my children go to sleep, and it’s this time of day that I can focus on any work that I need to do and create my images.

What ‘hood are you in?

My family and I live in the inner city, north of downtown, in Mount Pleasant.

What do you do?

I am a digital content creator. Meaning, I make photos and videos for myself and various local and national companies.

What are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on an image that captures my son’s recent desire to learn skating. Also, working on a new marketing campaign.

Where can we find your work?

My work can be seen on my Instagram page @Life_With_Benjamin.