The Artists
Elaine Robitaille
Studio Tour Location: Field and Fable, Swift Current Medium: Polymer and Ceramic Clay
Elaine is a self-taught artist living and working in Southwest Saskatchewan. Working primarily with polymer clay, she creates whimsical and detailed jewellery and sculpture. Her focus remains, after two decades, on creating images within the clay using a process called caning or millefiore where images are built up by layering clay. These canes are then used to build finished pieces. In the past two years she has expanded her practice to include ceramics and hopes to continue the exploration of whimsy there.
You can see more of her work at https://www.tooaquarius.com
IG: @tooaquarius FB: @tooaquarius
Donald Ferguson
Studio Tour Location: Field & Fable, Swift Current Medium: Photography
I grew up at the edge of the forest in east central Saskatchewan and now call Swift Current, Saskatchewan home. Living in southwestern Saskatchewan means that most of my photographic time is spent in western Canada but I also enjoy photographing other parts of Canada when I get the chance.
I have been a student of photography for a number of years now (pre-digital) and I feel that while I have learned a lot, there is still much for me to learn. I have no formal training in photography, learning from many, many books and a lot of trial and error. The technical aspects of photography are relatively easy to learn, the hardest part is learning how to create art with a camera. It took many years of practice before I was satisfied with my images.
I love wandering in the great outdoors, hiking or canoeing into places where I can be surrounded by Mother Nature. My camera is just a tool that I use to try and capture of the beauty, peace and joy that I experience while being in a meadow at sunrise, surrounded by the music of meadowlarks, dew glistening grass and the warmth of the rising sun. Of course all mornings are not created equal, the sunrise may be hidden and the meadowlarks silent, but the best thing about nature photography is that even if I have been out all day and don't capture anything great on camera, I have been out... all day... in nature.
My photographic style is more artistic than documentary, when I make a photograph I am not trying to show the scene exactly as it appeared to the naked eye but to use photographic technique (different lenses, slow shutter speeds, composition, etc) to create art out of the elements that Mother Nature has given me. The emotion of the image is the most important element to me.
You can visit Donald online at www.wanderingmanphotography.com
JoAnn Richert
Studio Tour Location: Field and Fable, Swift Current Medium: Painting
JoAnn Marie was born and raised in Saskatchewan. She spent some time in Malaysia as a teenager and many summers in Northern Saskatchewan with family. The natural world has had a huge influence on her life and inspired her art. JoAnn is always exploring new and exciting mediums. She enjoys working on stretched and loose canvas as well as wood panel and furniture. Her paint palette includes vibrant colours, using high flow acrylics, and Inktense pencils. JoAnn uses bright batik fabric in much of her work, natural materials, paper, and texture paste. Her abstract and experimental style represents nature in our world.
Website: www.joannmarieart.com
IG: @jorichert50 FB: @joann.richert
Rick Redekop
Studio Tour Location: Field and Fable, Swift Current Medium: Woodworking
Rick Redekop was born and raised in the Swift Current area. His works are primarily woodturning, creating one of a kind unique pens, pencils, keychains and a variety of other items. His creations are made from wood harvested locally as well as exotic wood sourced elsewhere.
FB: @Ricksturn
Sally Knelsen
Studio Tour Location: Loft Originals Studio, Swift Current Medium: Painting
I usually paint prairie scenes I have visited. I enjoy painting floral scenes as well. I would describe my paintings as being impressionistic and colorful. I have been exhibiting and selling art since the year 2000. I began with classes at AGSC in November 1997, later at Emma Lake and a class at the local College connected to U of R.
Keely Williams
Studio Tour Location: Loft Originals Studio, Swift Current Medium: Pottery
Williams’ work focuses on the prairie landscape and those working within it. She strives to evoke the wandering and undulating skylines, organic forms found in the gentle curves of the hills, and wide skies of Saskatchewan. Williams has a special interest in decay and detritus which is often prominent on the prairies: empty homesteads, dwindling rural towns, and the decay of what society once constructed. She works mostly in installation pieces and handbuilt ceramics featuring pinch forming and coil building. Keely Rae Williams lives and works in the river hills of Treaty 4 Territory.
IG: @feetofclaysk FB: @feetofclaysk
Becca Corbeil
Studio Tour Location: Westwing Gallery, Kinetic Park, Swift Current Medium: Painting
My artistic focus is capturing the essence of Prairie landscapes through Acrylic Painting. I graduated from the University of Lethbridge in 2020 with a B.F.A/B.Ed and have dove into creating art and teaching in my hometown of Swift Current since.
My current paintings represent a view from high above, showing the complexity of our diverse Saskatchewan landscape. Without the sky, the harsh and sometimes lush prairie land becomes the focus of the viewer. I love how the crop land juxtaposed with untouched pasture land create a striking contrast between organic and man made lines. The fields of green and gold create satisfying compositions that are simple in colour, and dynamic in texture.
We are all connected to the land we grew up, live, and work on. My paintings represent the importance of this connection through details showing the complexity of our footprint on our environment. We change the land as the land changes us.
IG: @Beccakleiner FB: @BeccaKlein
Cindy Allemand
Studio Tour Location: Airmen’s Billet, Kinetic Park, Swift Current Medium: Crocheted Jewelry, Clothing & Accessories
I am a mother to 5 adult children, a cook by trade, a baker and crochet artist by passion.
I taught myself to crochet at 19. 12 years later I learned to crochet wire with beads to make jewelry. A few months later I did my first craft/trade show. 4 years later I saw a handbag online made from can tabs crocheted together, and worked until I figured out how it was done. Slowly I have expanded the can tab creations to include bags, hats, tops, skirts, hair accesories, and in 2021 I made my daughters graduation dress.
Recently I have started to do more sewing upcycling, mostly using denim and crocheted vintage doilies. I really hate to waste things. In early 2025 I plan to move to Ireland so this will be the last chance for locals to get my one of a kind creations.
Pat Brososky
Studio Tour Location: Airmen’s Billet, Kinetic Park, Swift Current Medium: Painting
It’s the process of painting that draws me in, not the end result. I paint to be immersed in the creative process, experiencing the flow of ideas and intention toward a visual expression. It’s like a journey for me… learning, exploring, experimenting and pushing beyond my imagined limitations to create and express something that comes from within. It’s very personal and yearns to emerge. I love the playfulness and joy that I feel when I’m creating abstract work and appreciate that viewers put their own spin on the finished painting. We each add our personal flavour to the art often resulting in delightful surprises. Whether viewing or creating art, it enriches the soul.
Tommy Kirk
Studio Tour Location: Tommy’s Puppet Lab, Swift Current Medium: Paper Mache Puppets
A Canadian art lover from the land of the living skies, Saskatchewan! I am a bird loving magician who is strangely obsessed with weird/creepy things.
Art has always been a part of my life as I grew up with a lot of creative and gifted family members. I wish to display my art publicly because I want children to admire and feel inspired when they see their friends up close in person because characters are in the hearts of many children. My puppets have been featured in galleries, newspapers, television, YouTube, and radio. I am a nominee for the SaskArts Award celebrating 75.
website: www.tommyspuppetlab.com IG: @tpl.studios
Kim & Todd Undseth
Studio Tour Location: Undseth Pottery Studio, east of Swift Current Medium: Pottery
Undseth Pottery is a husband and wife team! Kim has been doing pottery since the fall of 2014. Todd has been making pieces since 2015 but made the switch to full time pottery, fall of 2022. Kim is a production wheel thrower and Todd works with slab building! We love to experiment with different glazes and texture!
Most days you can find Todd and Kim in their home studio, covered in clay and having the time of their life!
Website: www.undsethpottery.ca
IG:@undsethpottery FB: @undsethpottery
Carol Furman
Studio Tour Location: Carol Furman Studio, Rush Lake Medium: Pottery
Carol Furman is a potter whose studio is located near Rush Lake, Saskatchewan. Carol has worked with clay for several years, initially in Brooks, then High River, Alberta and for the last 35 years in Southwest Saskatchewan. She makes functional objects as well as sculpture with medium-fire clay that is mined in the Eastend area of Saskatchewan.
"There is a great feeling here of a close connection to both the land and the sky. Our prairie landscape is always an inspiration to recreate, reflect, and interpret into my work. Clay is a wonderful medium to use to build on that expression as you are actually using part of the landscape as your material," states Carol. n"Clay and I have worked and grown together for a long while now but I still have not uncovered all it's secrets. There will always be the challenge of trying to reach for clearer expression and more technical skill. That will never finish."
Linda Hotchkiss
Studio Tour Location: Carol Furman Studio, Rush Lake Medium: Woodworking with Scrollsaw
I am a semi-retired General Construction Safety Officer (Alberta) & Remote Bookkeeper. Although I worked in the construction industry for 25 years, I had never used or owned a power tool. On December 24th of 2021 I purchased my first power tool which was a compound mitre saw to make a frame from reclaimed barnwood for a gift I had made for a friend for Christmas. By August of 2022, having accumulated a number of tools and watching hundreds of YouTube instructional videos, I picked up a band saw which quickly became my favorite tool.
In October of 2022 a friend, having heard I loved the band saw, gifted me an old scroll saw. I went back to YouTube to learn how to use it. In January of 2023 I started dabbling with the scroll saw and I was immediately hooked. Always challenging myself to do more intricate and artistic work with same. I have a passion for western rustic décor, horses, dogs and saving wood from being disposed of in the dump or buried.
Ole West décor is what I like to create with my scroll saw but I will attempt just about anything if someone has asked. I love the challenge and improving my skills. It took me until I was almost 60 to find my passion and I hope to continue creating for the remainder of my life time!
Andrea Haughian
Studio Tour Location: Carol Furman Studio, Rush Lake Medium: Painting
My name is Andrea Haughian I am a self taught, Saskatchewan based, wife, mother of 3 creative children, Metis artist who finds the possibility of beauty and creativity in all things. As an artist I have a desire to see beauty in all things, I accredit that to something God has placed within me. I work predominantly acrylics but I enjoy inks, pastels, layering with mixed media and mark making but thoroughly enjoy all mediums of art. I tend to work in a loose impressionist style and like trying to abstract my subjects. Landscapes, florals and portrait art are some of my favourite subjects. I am always looking to grow as an artist and am grateful I can use my gifts to hopefully bring some beauty and joy into this world.
IG: @abch._art
Marsha Schuld
Studio Tour Location: Orange Tree Design Studio, south of Rush Lake Medium: Inter-media artist working in glass, embroidery, printmaking, painting and more
I have been making art my whole life and love to explore different media. I have a driving need to create things with my hands and will change the medium to suit the subject. All my work bears some relationship to living a prairie life. My inspiration comes from the landscape, animals and people around me. Light and colour play a huge role in everything I create. It is about a passion for making as well as a passion for sharing that which brings joy and meaning to my own art practice.
IG: @schuldart
Morghie Flaterud
Studio Tour Location: Orange Tree Design Studio, south of Rush Lake Medium: Illustration
Morghie Flaterud has a BFA in Visual Arts from the University of Regina. While she spends a lot of time creating comics and illustrations, she also enjoys painting, drawing, and working in mixed media.
You can view more of her work at www.zombietigressart.com
IG: @Zombietigressart FB: @zombietigressart
Jen Wells
Studio Tour Location: Orange Tree Design Studio, south of Rush Lake Medium: Stained Glass and Printmaking
My name is Jen Wells. I grew up and still reside on a farm near Waldeck, SK. I recieved my Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in New Media from the University of Lethbridge in 2007. I'm inspired by all things horror and combine my sense of humor in to my work.
IG: @deadishdancer
Sharon Penner
Studio Tour Location: 3 Thistle Studio, South of Herbert Medium: Painting
Sharon Penner lives and works on the family farm in the Herbert, Saskatchewan area. Grain is in the veins, surrounded by great plains beauty. She is self taught and has been creating since a young age. She took time off from creating to raise 3 children with her husband and worked the farm as well.
Now in these later years, Sharon has found more time to pursue her creative side. Using mixed medium in a loose abstract style her work is in large to small format. She was worked with acrylic, watercolour, ink and, recently, pastel.
Here in Saskatchewan there is a never ending supply of landscapes and skies. She has chosen bold colours to capture light, drawing inspiration from dreams and seeing true creation. She is hoping to reveal that back to the viewer. The colours will speak more than the picture itself, connecting the boldness of the light to the inner person.
Marlys Janzen
Studio Tour Location: 3 Thistle Studio, South of Herbert Medium: Crocheting
I grew up on a farm south of Rush Lake Saskatchewan. At a young age my mother taught me the basic crochet stitches. Through the years I crocheted on and off when time permitted.
I now live in Swift Current Saskatchewan having raised my 2 children. Now that I have retired I find myself spending a lot more time to crochet having made many afghans through the years.
I am dedicated to providing high-quality handmade products that bring joy and comfort to the customers. I believe in using sustainable materials and supporting local artisans, aiming to create beautiful and functional pieces that inspire creativity and connection.
Our Story
The Tour was begun in 2009 by a group of artists looking for a different kind of exposure and new opportunities. They are linked by their love of art and their location along the Trans-Canada Highway in Southwest Saskatchewan. As professional artists, the participants all agree that nurturing the arts and teaching people about the process of art is as important as selling their work. We hope you’ll join us on the tour!
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