For Immediate Release / April 6, 2023
St. Albert Painter's Guild Spring Show
Spring hangs in the air like a painting. And fittingly, under the title of “Hello Sunshine!”, more than 50 artists will emerge from their studios to share their works at the St. Albert Painters Guild’s annual spring art show.
“There's so much, and it's all genres, all price points,” notes Frances Pelletier, president of the Guild. “Acrylic, oil, watercolour, every medium, all different styles, landscapes and portraits, abstract, and mixed media; it's really a great show.”
Running in the Rotunda at St Albert Place, “Hello Sunshine!” will feature 300-some works of art from the Guild’s membership. Shows like this allow Guild members not only to showcase their talents, but to connect with fans of art. Friday night features a reception with refreshments and live entertainment, while any of the weekend’s visitors will receive a ballot for the People’s Choice Award, letting them celebrate their favourite works, even if they’re not looking to buy.
“It can be pretty big,” Pelletier admits, noting that much of the show’s prep and execution is thanks to the dedication of its volunteers, and the response from the community has been undeniable.
“Friday morning at 9 a.m. is when we open and we literally have people lined up to buy paintings,” she says. “People know about it and they want first dibs.”
The Guild itself, currently 110 members strong, was formed in 1987 to support the local community of visual artists, regardless of their levels of experience. Pelletier herself joined the Guild shortly after she took up painting in 2016.
“I didn't take art in school. I never had any formal training of any sort,” she recalls. “I started with a cheap [paint] set from Walmart and a bunch of YouTube videos.”
Since joining the Guild, Pelletier has found the benefits to be substantial: access to studio time, reduced-rate workshops and excellent instructors have all helped her artistic journey. “My art has changed a lot, but I like to try everything,” she continues, of the styles she likes to work in. “I don't think I'll ever find one thing that I want to do.”
In addition to big shows like “Hello Sunshine!”, the Guild does a similar scale fall show, and members have other opportunities to share their works at pop-up events throughout the year. Upcoming on June 10 is the Art in the Open event where Guild members showcase their art on their lawns around town.
All these opportunities help local artists hone their skills and find an audience, but Pelletier notes that the Guild’s company of artists are also willing to help each other. They connect to share knowledge and skills that can be hard to learn in isolation, like artistic tricks on how to hang a painting.
“There's always questions,” Pelletier says. “I like to be open about that; I've learned a lot and I have a lot to learn, but we do have some really knowledgeable people in the Guild who are happy to help [new] artists.”
Hello Sunshine! runs Friday, April 28 to Sunday April 30 at the Rotunda at St. Albert Place. Fin more info at paintersguild.wildapricot.org
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Last edited: April 28, 2023