Visual Expressions – an art exhibition and sale

Les Hummerston
Les started painting and drawing at a very young age and is mainly self-taught. He has taken some classes from local Manitoba artists but does not have a formal art education. His first paintings were of wildlife and his love of nature and the outdoors is reflected in the art he does today. Many of his paintings include birds, animals and fish and represent scenery that many people can relate to. Les’s first paintings were done in oil paints, then pencil crayons, watercolours, acrylics and inks. He has his own unique style for using watercolours which results in an unusual and detailed effect in his paintings. He does a lot of his own framing using old barn board and other materials that complement his works of nature. Les’s work has been sold across Canada and the United States. In 2018 Les won first place at the Interlake Juried Art Show as well as second place and the People’s Choice Award for the Manitoba Fisheries Enhancement Stamp Competition. In 2022 Les won a first, second and third place at the Interlake Juried Art Show. Many of his paintings are currently on display at Jake’s Fishing Resort in Northwest Angle, MN. Several of his paintings have been used by the movie industry and appear in all seasons of the series, Burden of Truth. Les found a connection between his barn board framing and producing works of art on a wood lathe. He has taken rough pieces of wood and found the hidden beauty within them. Every piece is unique and this is demonstrated in his many picture frames and his bowls, plates and urns.
Ida Mackenzie
Ida Mackenzie’s creative spirit was sparked when she took
up oil painting at a very young age. From painting to
potting, to carving, and back to painting, she pushed herself
outside her comfort zone to learn more. Her subject matter
is influenced by her love for animals and the surrounding
landscape. She is inspired by her summers spent at a
remote cabin in Northern Ontario where she experiences
raw natural beauty. She works in watercolour, pastels,
acrylics, scratch-art, and sometimes combines several of
these materials to create the beauty of the world as she sees
it.
Patti Simko
Patti Simko is a self-taught, acrylic painter. Her landscape and
vibrant floral paintings pay homage to growing up on the family
farm in Manitoba’s Interlake. Her inspiration comes from her
love of nature, the rural landscape, travel and history. She has
always been interested in the way colour can prompt a memory or
create a mood. Patti shares her love of art with others through
teaching adult and youth art classes from her home, at Gwen Fox
Gallery and the St. Andrews Heritage Centre. Her works can be
found in collector’s homes both nationally and internationally.
Shayani Turko
Born in Sri Lanka, Shayani A. Turko (née Fernando) immigrated
to Canada with her family in 2006, a transition which culminated
in a significant transformational process. During this
period, Shayani discovered her calling to be an artist. For over a
decade now, Shayani has used oils, acrylics, and mixed media to
create impressionist and abstract interpretations of her inner reality
as well as the world around her.