Arlene Unruh, artist featured in October at the Steinbach Cultural Arts Centre.
Born and raised on a small farm in southern Manitoba, Arlene was the youngest of four children. Art, music, and creativity in general were always encouraged in her house. It was a struggle for her parents to afford all the lessons. Still, some of her fondest memories are sitting at the kitchen table with a new box of Crayolas and a fresh coloring book. Arlene still loves to get together with her sister and paint. Their styles are so similar they can work on the same piece and still maintain continuity. When she first started, her preference was oil painting and she loved the smooth, rich texture and color as well as its forgiving nature.
Later in life, Arlene decided to take a Watercolour course at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, just to learn its properties and how to better work with them. She enjoyed that course so much that she ended up taking a drawing course in order to try and overcome her fear of drawing portraits, people, and man-made objects, which she finds to be unforgiving. Landscapes and flowers remain my favourites. It was a Bob Ross all day seminar she took in March 2006 at the Steinbach Arts Council that inspired her.
In December of 2006 she was granted an Art Exhibit opportunity at the Steinbach Arts Council. She sold a few pieces at her showing, and continues to sell and lease her work through the Buy and Lease Art Program at the Steinbach Arts Council. Her work is admired and enjoyed throughout the region. Arlene feels that painting and playing piano helps maintain a semblance of sanity to her life.
