Submitted by Wes Bloom
A 鈥淢eet the Artist Social鈥� and reception was held at the Shurniak Art Gallery for Sandra Belbeck-Lamontagne of Rockglen and her 鈥淧rairie Portrait鈥� exhibition. Nearly 100 folks from all over southern Saskatchewan braved the bitter cold and winds of the south country to honour Sandra and show their love and appreciation for her unique prairie art. Her paintings and art will displayed at the 鈥楽hurniak鈥� until April 3.
It is said: 鈥淵ou can take the girl out of the country, but you can鈥檛 take the 鈥榗ountry鈥� out of the girl鈥�. This quaint, yet appropriate, phrase must surely have been written especially for Sandra Lamontagne.
Born in 1953 in southern Saskatchewan, Sandra grew up on a farm slightly north and east of Rockglen, on the shores of Fife Lake.
Life on the farm gave Sandra a solid work ethic and the tools she would need to cope with life on the prairies for the rest of her life. She and her husband Roger raised three sons, now grown, on their ranch, due west of Lisieux, Saskatchewan. They are the proud grandparents of four beautiful young granddaughters.
Sandra Lamontagne is now, at long last, well on her way to becoming one of Saskatchewan鈥檚 best known 鈥榝ine鈥� artists. She prefers to work with watercolours, but also uses 鈥榦ils鈥�, acrylics, pencil, and pen and ink, as well as pastels. Sandra is 鈥榤ostly鈥� self-taught, but has taken a few 鈥榩ainting and drawing鈥� classes over the course of her life, as well as completing an Art Instruction correspondence course while still in high school in Rockglen where she graduated in 1971.
Over the years, Sandra has herself become a mentor and teacher of art, tutoring and inspiring students to pursue their passion and God-given talents in the field of art.
Active in the fine arts communities of the 小蓝视频lands, Sandra has been instrumental in establishing and organizing local 鈥楢rt in the Park鈥� programs and events.
Life on the farm and ranch also created within Sandra a deep love for the great outdoors, its prairie landscape and animals - both wild and domestic. Small town rodeos and the country folk who inhabit this land are just a small part of her passion for this unique and wonderful place. Sandra鈥檚 art is truly a reflection of her life on the prairies. She 鈥榙raws鈥� her inspiration - no pun intended - from the land and its inhabitants.
Truth be told? 鈥楬orses鈥� are her favourite subjects to paint. Who would have guessed? Over the years, Sandra Belbeck-Lamontagne has acquired a very impressive resume and body of work. Recently, her painting 鈥淎re聽 You Ready鈥� was on display in the Saskatchewan Lieutenant Governor鈥檚 Office at Government House in Regina. Sandra鈥檚 work has also been shown at the Calgary Stampede, the Arts Saskatchewan Show, the reflection of Nature Show in Saskatoon, and the 鈥淣ot Just Another Horse Show鈥� in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Her work has been featured in the Sasktel Collection, two OSAC travelling displays, as well as in numerous private collections.
Sandra鈥檚 paintings have also been featured on three 4-H Christmas cards, and the 1993 SGI calander. Her illustrations also grace the pages of the children鈥檚 book 鈥淐hildren of the Wood Mountain Uplands鈥� by historian Thelma Poirier. Sandra Lamontagne鈥檚 webite address is www.slamontagne.com.
