Val Morhart of Canora has enjoyed art work for most of his life, and achieved a long-time dream recently with a one-man art show at the Yorkton Public Library.
The show ran from March 2 to April 29, and Morhart said sales exceeded all expectations. A total of 10 of his paintings were sold right off the wall, and with at least three additional commissioned works, and possibly more.
Many of his paintings have significant historical meaning, which seems to connect with people. “I enjoy rediscovering old farm yards that Saskatchewan is noted for, which are slowly disappearing.”
One of Morhart’s most recently completed paintings is for Jerome Thrienen, his brother-in-law, who has been working on the restoration of an old 15-30 McCormick Deering tractor. The painting includes two tractors, a rusty 15-30 before restoration, and a fully restored version of the same model. Thrienen asked to have pheasants included in the painting. The painting includes Thrienen with one of his grandchildren, and their farm shop in the background.
Morhart said one of the most time consuming parts of the project was painting the various shades of rust on the tractor in such a way that “it didn’t just look like a big brown blob.” He estimates the painting took at least 60 hours, making it one of his more time consuming projects.
Recently Morhart has completed a number of paintings where the focus is on old buildings and rusty old iron, including one of a barn and a car from the 1930s. He said paintings like this one are good sellers, mostly because they bring back memories for many people. He said he feels drawn to painting old rusty vehicles such as the old car because “It’s earned its rust.”
Morhart’s picture of two strawberry roan horses started out as a photograph taken near Spring Valley, south of Moose Jaw. Morhart added the corral and the horses, as well as the vapour trails of the two jets crossing overhead. He said he has grown to enjoy painting horses, especially since they have been very important in the history of Saskatchewan.
In addition to canvas, Morhart has painted on a number of other materials and items. These include birch bark, cream cans, stones, cow skulls, feathers, dried leaves and hand saws.
He painted one of his saws with a railroad theme. One side was of a CP Rail train, and the other side of the saw was a painting of a CN train. Morhart said this saw has been purchased by a model train collector.
Morhart grew up just outside Killaly, near Melville. His interest in art started around the age of five, with the encouragement of his mother.
He farmed for about 20 years and also worked off the farm, leaving him little time for art.
But in 2004 Morhart began pursuing painting on a full-time basis during his recovery from hip surgery. That artistic passion continued after his move to Canora in 2005.
He has been showing and selling his art for about six years, and the Yorkton Public Library show was his first solo exhibition. Morhart said he gets a great deal of enjoyment from meeting people who feel a personal connection when they see his art.
