MOOSE MOUNTAIN PROVINCIAL PARK - Holly Dauvin started attending the Artist Colony of Moose Mountain Provincial Park in 2015 and has returned each year with the exception of the COVID-19 lockdown times.
Dauvin has always lived in the Moosomin area. Her adult children Lindsey and Jae also farm close by.
As a child, Dauvin always enjoyed drawing and would do pencil art sketching.
When her children grew up, Dauvin began to take a couple of art classes at BG House of Crafts in Moosomin, which is now closed. The classes consisted of a pastel class, an oil routing and scratch class.
Dauvin has been painting for 30 years and enjoys it. Each time she picks up a paint brush she creates something new. It is very relaxing for her.
She paints whatever she feels her mood might be that day, but she loves to paint landscapes and the skies of Saskatchewan. She also enjoys pet portraits and has painted her daughter Lindsey’s horses for her.
Dauvin enjoys visiting her friends in Brandon, Man., so she can attend the Art Gallery of Southern Manitoba to gain more knowledge.
With painting animal portraits, Dauvin noticed a bush bunny outside her cabin at the colony. The bunny was the size of a mango. Dauvin snapped photos of the little creature and proceeded to do a painting of the little guy.
Dauvin also captured the beauty of a blue heron on the lake and painted this bird.
One form of art Dauvin does is ink tense. It is a water soluble permanent and bright colouring pencil. It may be used dry or can be mixed with water. The colour is very vibrant and once dry, many colours may be layered to create a colourful piece of work.
Chalk pastels is another form of artwork that Dauvin uses. Chalk pastels are great for colour mixing as brushes are not needed.
Dauvin loves her time at the Colony. She explained how two young boys came to visit her. The boys were visiting their grandpa.
“They were full of questions,” she said.
“The people are so friendly, and it is a great place to be.”
Dauvin is also part of the Kenosee Lake Retreat Committee and attended each day.
She will return to the Artist Colony next year.
