High Country art lovers and aficionados don’t have to look any further than their local library to peruse fine work created by southern Albertan artists.
The work of foothills artists Grace Langford and Marg Smith, who held a reception last Saturday, is on display at the Sheep River Library until March 2.
The exhibit features the bright and colourful nature-themed work of Smith, an Okotoks artist. She said she draws her inspiration from nature and finds ideas when travelling to different countries and closer to home with the mountains and prairies.
“People think that the prairies are boring and dull but if you look closely, you can find lots of things that are really unique,” she said of both its wildlife and vegetation.
For Smith, creating artwork is not a methodical process, but a hobby guided by her feelings.
“I do it for fun,” she explained. “It’s enjoyment, it’s relaxation, it’s trying to instill the beauty onto a canvas that you see in nature and that’s the thing that I like to try and do is try to capture that beauty that you see so you can put it on canvas and others can enjoy it.”
Smith started painting less than 10 years ago and has taken art courses to refine her craft. She said she prefers to paint with oils and believes art is a terrific way to meet people.
One of the people she has met through her hobby is Langford, whose work is also on display at the library.
Langford has tried a number of different mediums, which she likes for various reasons, she explained, but prefers to work in watercolour.
“They can be very subtle and then they can be quite vibrant,” the Millarville artist said.
Langford paints landscapes, portraits and some animals, and said she draws her inspiration from various things, adding the area is beautiful.
“I’m interested in everything so I paint just about everything,” she said.
The display featuring Langford and Smith’s work is part of the Sheep River Library’s arts program, which showcases different southern Alberta artists every month. There is no selection process or fee to display and interested artists need only put their names forward to the library.
The library’s art co-ordinator and volunteer Palma Heming said artists’ work was initially to be displayed for two months, but the library has received a lot of interest and the gallery room is booked up until the fall.
Heming said the exhibitions can benefit both the artist and the library.
“It helps dress up the library, it’s helping develop the library as a real quality art venue and it’s also very good exposure for some artists that may not have any other opportunity,” she explained.
Heming said she enjoys meeting the artists and has learned a lot about art since co-ordinating the exhibits.
“Every time I have a new display and I ask the artist if they would give me a private tour and explain to me what motivated them to draw each or to create each art piece and it’s fascinating,” she said.
Heming explained she finds it interesting to learn where artists’ ideas originated from and added how a lot of local scenery is depicted in artwork that has been displayed.
“It makes the art, in my mind, more special to know what inspired them,” she said.
Heming added visitors will be in for a treat when they come to view the current exhibit, which features quite a variety of high quality art featuring landscapes, still life, and a bit of wildlife.
For more information contact the Sheep River Library at 403-933-3278 or visit the website at www.sheepriverlibrary.ca/programs/specialevents.
