Art studio tour welcomes art enthusiasts to explore the beauty of the Shell Lake area

Ever since Annette Henbid was a child, the Prince Albert artist has been spending weekends at Iroquois Lake near the community of Shell Lake, one hour west of P.A. She said the area’s landscape and wildlife find their way into her drawing and paintings.

“It’s a really pretty area. I don’t know the geology of it but it’s very hilly and a mixed forest, so you have spruce trees and poplars and pine and everything’s coming together and then you have a little hillside and a big lake with islands,” Henbid said.

“It’s just very, very scenic so I think that that may be one of the reasons there are so many artists in Northern Saskatchewan. Lots to look at and try and capture.”

For the past 16 years artists trying to capture the natural beauty of the Shell Lake area have been encouraging others to visit the region themselves and drop by their studios as they interpret and express the local flora and fauna through painting, sculpture, fibre art, glasswork and jewelry.

On Aug. 12 and 13, 19 artists at 12 locations around Shell Lake are opening their studio doors to visitors for the 17th annual Thickwood Hills Studio Trail self-guided art studio tour. Next Friday Annette Henbid and her fellow artists will be placing signs shaped as blue crescent moons on every corner of the highway and grid road around to aid travellers as they journey from site to site. Those who visit each of the 12 studios will be entered into a draw for $150 to be spent at a studio of their choice.

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Got to go:

What? Thickwood Hills Studio Trail art studio tour

Where? Shell Lake area, map available at tour website

When? Saturday, Aug. 12 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission? Free