A graphic designer by training and an experienced painter, Lyse-Anne Roy founded Dr Patch in 2007 out of necessity: her son suffered from strabismus, and she created fun and attractive eye patches to prevent him from being teased at school. Here she is back in the middle of a pandemic with a project for online drawing classes. Now more than ever, she is consolidating her skills and inspiring others in turn.

You may remember this mother, creator of DrPatch , that Danièle Henkel chose to support on the show Dans l'œil du Dragon in 2013. The company has since taken off. "I had no idea what entrepreneurship was," recalls Lyse-Anne Roy. "Danièle Henkel helped me a lot, especially to focus on the essentials without spreading myself too thin, to better manage money and inventory. Namely, to sell my product."

More entrepreneurial than ever

The entrepreneurial mom has learned well, even if she admits that interest in this project has waned recently. “I need to create,” she says. “It’s my driving force to move forward.” When the pandemic broke out, Dr Patch was struggling to such an extent that Lyse-Anne Roy could no longer make a living from it. So she started giving again

visual arts classes to small groups and to offer cultural mediation. These activities were interrupted with the first lockdown.

While he was helping her breathe new life into Dr. Patch, her former collaborator Olivier Gingras-Audet, co-founder of the Leo Solutions agency, suggested that she try out online drawing classes. Their first attempts, filmed with a simple phone, without lighting, snowballed. In no time, 1,000 people had registered for the webinar. “We decided to start a business together again!” she says, happily. “It’s as if my entire journey had brought me here,” notes the main person concerned. “This project brings together the teacher, the illustrator, the entrepreneur and all the knowledge I’ve acquired regarding websites and customer service. I’m in control from A to Z. I’m more of an entrepreneur than ever.”

In one year, more than 50,000 people had watched the free course and more than 3,000 students had taken at least one course. Lyse-Anne Roy quickly developed other offers, capsules, “free lives” and special packages. Once again, Danièle Henkel’s voice echoed in her head: once a product is sold, you have to have something else to offer.

Drawing as therapy

She is captivated by her students' progress . They come from Quebec, Belgium, France and Switzerland. Lyse-Anne Roy plans to focus her efforts on developing the French-speaking market. "I am very motivated by the success of this project and by the testimonials I receive from people who say that I saved their lives!" she exclaims. "They discover with me that they know how to draw. We return to this simple gesture practiced in childhood that allows us to let go. I created a Facebook page where my students share their progress. Friendships have been formed."

Lyse-Anne Roy prides herself on democratizing a simple and timeless gesture that only requires paper and a pencil. She asks her students what they want to draw and she develops their talent as observers with them. “Everything can be drawn! I am curious so I encourage them to become curious too. Should we choose to draw an orchid? I take the time to give them a little history lesson on this flower. To illustrate is to observe.”

The artist also had to face her fear of speaking in front of thousands of people. “I am shy by nature and in my classes, I have to perform in front of a camera. Danièle Henkel also inspired this authenticity in me. When I make mistakes in my papers or my “pitons” live, I try to laugh about it. I invite my students to go get a coffee! (laughs)”

The cycle of inspiration

Her mentor continues to guide her: “Her great generosity and authenticity have inspired me to simply be who I am. Now it’s my turn to support people with these same values.”

So, inspiration is a cycle that feeds on others. “I am giving back exactly what I received by offering coaching to my students as well as to people who are starting businesses. The more I give, the more abundance there is. With this project, I was able to pay off the debts I was carrying for Dr. Patch!”

Lyse-Anne Roy now wants to pass Dr. Patch on to her son Zacharie, the one for whom she created it and who is now 18 years old. “He’s taking classes to become an entrepreneur! I’m showing him the basics of ordering in the hopes that he’ll want to continue the efforts.”