Arts and crafts have always been keen interests of mine. I can remember at a young age making little items out of my mother's sewing scrap material, pieces of wood, tin and whatever I could find laying around on the farm I was raised on.
I would also draw and paint the religious pictures on my mother's calendar using cheap pencils and cheap watercolours. I would take them to school and my teacher would paste them on the blackboard. Man, was I proud of my crude paintings, thinking, "Hey! I might not get an 'A' in math, but my paintings are on the blackboard!" Funny how little people's minds work.
I graduated from the Alberta Vocational College as a LPN in 1960. I worked in several different hospitals in Alberta and British Columbia, finally making North Battleford home. It was here that I met my husband at a ball tournament, where he asked a friend, "Who's that girl playing centre field?" That was the beginning of a 50-year loving friendship. We have three children and family life was spent on ball diamonds in summer and hockey rinks in the winter.
This left no time for painting. However, I managed to take some workshops from Marcia Picketts, Father Jourdian and Nora Krake. I also joined the North Battleford Art Club for a short while, painting as time permitted.
Working in the nursing profession to help put our children through post-secondary education left no time for painting. Afterretirement in 2004 I reconnected with painting and joined the Battlefords Art Club. I have painted in oils, acrylics, and presently with watercolours.
I enjoy creating landscapes, waterscapes and portraits, but really enjoy working with flowerscapes.
I took workshops from Kevin Quinlin, Rom Novakowski, Doreen Kalmakoff (portraits), Dean Bauche, Janet Laye and Bonny Macnab (silk paintings), and took a class from the U of S at North West Regional College.
I have also dabbled in many crafts. I made forms and cast cement stepping stones,decorating some with stained glass. I have also done floral arranging, mosaics, porcelain clay flowers and outdoor decor and landscaping in my own yard.
It gives me great pleasure to be a member of the art club, sharing friendships and art. The art members give encouragement, advice and little tips to help improve paintings.
Being a member of the Chapel Gallery has many benefits for our art members including workshops, art exhibits, show and sales, as well as keeping artists informed on techniques and classes. The Chapel Gallery is also situated in a scenic part of this city and is a great place for many artists from all over our country to display their talents and wares.
Art Notes
We had a large group of Battlefords members meet at the Don Ross Centre Tuesday, which is great as our luncheon meeting revolved around our upcoming art show and sale Friday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25. All members discussed what we need to do to make this a great show.
Several members travelled to Saskatoon last week to tour the Mendel Art Gallery, Hues Art Supply, Art Placement and Prairie Star Gallery (the shop was closed however they graciously opened it for our art members).
Chris Hodge (art member) will be having a showing of his art there in November.
Don't forget the Marigold Market this weekend, Oct. 17 and 18. Enjoy our lovely warm fall weather.
