The Airdrie Artist Guild is once again getting into the spirit of rodeo with its new exhibit at Smitty’s Restaurant in Airdrie.
“It really is like stepping into the Western culture when you walk in there,” said Cheryl Todd Shergold, local artist and member of the Airdrie Artist Guild.
“It gives you a really neat perspective on the Airdrie Pro Rodeo.”
The paintings are part of an ongoing show at Smitty’s that switches themes four times a year.
This year, the paintings feature everything from horses and hay to rodeo clowns and landscapes.
“Having a theme to work with gives you motivation to paint and makes you paint something you wouldn’t usually do,” said Todd Shergold.
“We all have our own styles and this gets you to paint outside the box.”
Todd Shergold has been an artist all of her life but began taking it seriously about 18 years ago.
She works in a number of different mediums and enjoys painting florals, figures and landscapes.
She has been a member of the Airdrie Artist Guild, which includes 12 members from Airdrie and rural surrounding areas, for two years.
Jean Ottosen and Roger Lee established the Airdrie Artist Guild in 1988. Today the club offers the same opportunities as in the past; workshops, demonstrations, lectures, sketch nights, video demos and community projects.
Todd Shergold said the guild has really grown over the past year.
“We have started being a lot more vocal and outgoing, we have really teamed together as a group to make ourselves known,” she said.
“It is a great place for people who love to paint and we have people of all levels, from beginners to those who do it for a living. I know there are artists out there in their basements wondering if they should join and I say, ‘absolutely for the comradery, support and advice.’ It is a great place to meet like-minded people.”
Last summer, the guild raised about $700 at a silent auction to provide free classes to seniors at the Airdrie Over-50 Club once a month.
“We are so proud of our new endeavors,” said Todd Shergold.
The guild is also teaching younger residents about art as part of its art show at the Airdrie Public Library beginning July 5.
The show includes about 40 paintings from guild members.
“The library has always been really supportive of the Airdrie Artist Guild,” said Todd Shergold.
Although she is thankful for the space at the library, Todd Shergold said she would like to see all the arts and culture groups in Airdrie come together and work as one to create an arts studio.
“I think we would be so much more powerful as one,” she said.
“It would be so much easier to get classes, studio space and a gallery up and running if we work together. There is strength in numbers.”
For more information on the Airdrie Artist Guild, visit http://airdrieartistguild.blogspot.com
