About the Artist
Charmaine, is unique in her approach in watercolour florals and scenes of the Manitoba countryside, her landscapes especially show excellent perspective and realism. She is very well known throughout Manitoba. Charmaine knows no boundaries: as she works in combined and separate media with watercolours, graphite, charcoal, inks acrylics, oil pastels, conte, gouache, soap stone carvings, folk art and anything else that catches her fancy.
In addition Charmaine has organized and held annual artistic retreats and many workshops throughout the province. She greatly enjoys teaching beginner artists and has joyfully watched her students bud and flourish into fine artists themselves. She also teaches painting, soap stone carving and other arts and crafts with the St. James – Assiniboia School Division, St, Vital/Louis Riel School Division and Red River College. As well, she has conducted demonstrations at numerous other establishments, schools and clubs such as Artists Emporium and Michael’s, for their clientele. Always willing to share her knowledge and experience with others she has freely donated many hours teaching and encouraging budding artists (both young and old) at schools, resource centres, community clubs and art clubs throughout the city and rural areas in Manitoba.
Charmaine has had her artistry exhibited all over the province of Manitoba. Her works can be seen at the Forks, Red River Exhibition, many government offices, medical clinics, private business and homes throughout the world. She has been a member of several Art Clubs and has been instrumental in the forming of new Art Clubs such as The Artist’s Path, Prairie Palette in Oak Bluff, Group Expression in St. Vital and the latest one St. James Fine Arts. She has always kept these clubs moderately priced, so anyone can afford to join and enjoy the excellent workshops offered and the camaraderie of sharing knowledge with other artists.
Among Charmaine's many accomplishments she has been a licensed pilot for over 40 years. She met her husband Gordon while obtaining her commercial pilots license in southern Ontario. Having lived in remote northern communities such as Labrador City, Nfld, Norway House and Thompson, Manitoba provided her with a unique prospective to interject into her art. Many of her volunteer works over the years have included a turn as President of the Thompson YMCA-YWCA, teaching as a volunteer tutor and Chairperson of the Board of the Stevenson-Britannia Adult Literacy Program Inc. She is one of the founding members of the Manitoba Hypnotists' Association, serving as President (1994-2000). She has also taught self-hypnosis and relaxation for the St. James School Division for many years. Life experiences help make us who we are.... and ART -is- THERAPY FOR THE SOUL.