MOOSE MOUNTAIN PROVINCIAL PARK - Don and Marion Evans, wood craftsmen from Saskatchewan, were the most recent visitors to the Artist Colony in Moose Mountain Provincial Park.
The woodworking duo was selling some of their amazing artistic pieces in one of the cottages this past week.
Although the couple has been visiting Kenosee Lake for over 40 years, and stay in Kenosee during the summer, this was the first time that they were at the Artist Colony as artists themselves.
Don and Marion Evans’ work is done entirely with hardwood—with no dyes or paints used at all. They try as hard as possible to let the natural colours and tones of the wood stay intact. The couple makes just about anything out of wood that you can think of. They create intricate patterns and detail within their cutting boards, bowls, cheese boards, pens, pepper mills and more.
Their work is unique, as most artists who come to the Artist Colony are painters, sculptures, etc. However, it was because of the unique nature of their work that they were asked to come to the colony this year.
Marion and Don Evans were not always woodworkers though. The couple both worked in Regina for many years in the education system. Marion was a high school teacher while Don was a teacher and a principal. In earlier years, Marion had become interested in learning how to do woodworking as she saw the way that it captivated students who weren’t normally motivated in academic work.
However, she had never had the chance to get into woodworking until they made a trip to Arizona, and she was able to learn there. She eventually also got Don interested in the art, and then they were both hooked.
Both Marion and Don work together on many of the projects in order to get them completed —with Marion often coming up with designs and Don helping to execute them. They see their woodworking as more of a hobby than a business.
“I guess because we’re retired, and we’ve always been very busy people we thought we’d never, you know, have a lot of time on our hands. I think the favourite part [for me] is…we get to create something…it’s a hobby,” explained Marion.
Don also added that the challenge of creating intricate designs on projects, like their wooden bowls, always gives him great satisfaction.
“I love the challenge of figuring out how to do a bowl like that … I love that challenge to try to figure out how do you do that … and then try to do it.”
Overall, the couple was happy to be able to come to the Artist’s Colony for the first time. Unfortunately, last year they hadn’t been able to come because of COVID-19 restrictions, so it was great for them to be able to be part of the colony this summer.
To contact Don and Marion Evans and find out more about their woodworking, you can email them directly at [email protected].
