ELTJE DEGENHART, "New Works," Nov. 4-30, 2006, Assiniboia Gallery, Regina

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"June Saskatchewan"

Eltje Degenhart, "June Saskatchewan," acrylic on canvas, 20" x 60".

ELTJE DEGENHART, New Works

Assiniboia Gallery, Regina

Nov. 4-30, 2006

By Dina O'Meara

The sky and light of southeastern Saskatchewan are unending sources of wonder to Eltje Degenhart. Though he was born in Holland, Degenhart grew up in Weyburn and makes the subtlety of prairie landscape his favourite theme. Degenhart’s impressionistic style and use of bright and muted acrylics create a sense of intimacy within his large paintings, from forest winterscapes to prairie vistas. The intensity comes from experiencing the land, rather than slavishly following a photograph, he says. “I like to paint out here because I’m in the middle of it,” Degenhart says from his White Bear Lake studio, near Moose Mountain Provincial Park. “I like capturing that colour and space, I like painting the big, spacey landscapes with those horizontal lines, and contrasting that with painting the bush and reflections on water.” Degenhart studied at the Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary, and earned a Bachelor’s degree in art education from the University of Regina, where he studied under Ted Godwin, Joe Fafard and Art McKay. Retired five years from teaching high school art classes, Degenhart continues teaching creative skills to adults.

Represented by: Assiniboia Gallery, Regina; Gainsborough Galleries, Calgary.