About
Shirley Germain
Manitoba Watercolour Artist
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Shirley Germain is a watercolour artist who grew up in southwestern Manitoba. Although she remembers always having a keen interest in art, she never really pursued it until after her marriage, and a move to northern Manitoba in the 80's. It was here that she became deeply inspired by the untouched beauty and serenity of her surroundings, and began to paint scenes native to the area.
Basically self-taught , this artist has since worked her way 'south', and just recently settled into her home studio in the town of Stonewall, Manitoba.
"I never felt the need to experiment with any other medium." Germain tried watercolour first...got hooked...and absolutely fell in love with 'the look' of this wonderfully flexible medium.
"I think watercolour is the perfect medium to portray the many moods of Manitoba...it can be controlled or loose, traditional or purely accidental." And, that's what she loves about watercolour painting.
Although her surroundings have changed since the 80's, with subsequent moves to Dauphin, and then Arborg, Germain still feels compelled to capture the ever-mystical beauty of the Aurora Borealis. However, Shirley's choice of subject matter has broadened and 'moved south' with her. She now enjoys the challenge of painting abandoned farm buildings, old implements and vehicles..something you don't see up north. She has also found a way with birds - chickadees and bluejays are her favourite subjects at the backyard feeder.
Germain has entered many Juried Art Shows over the years and received numerous awards, including "Best of Show". She was invited to do a 1-woman show "Canadian Reflections" at the Dr. Vernon L. Watson Art Centre in Dauphin, which ran June 5 - July 20, 1994, and was very well received. More recently, she has been acknowledged for her award-winning entries to the '97 Canada Summer Games Medal Design Contest, the front cover of the Manitoba Public Insurance Millennium Calendar ("North of '55"), and the 2000 Central Flyway Sponsor Print program for Ducks Unlimited Canada ("Winter Bluejay").
"All that I have been taught, have done, or won, in the past few years gives me a sense of accomplishment and that, in turn, pushes me onward trying new techniques to achieve my goals and please myself."
Besides her professionally framed originals, Shirley also has a limited edition of 500 titled "Not for Sale", a limited edition of 250 titled "North of '55" (a triptych), 100 Artist Proofs of "Winter BlueJay", and two giclee limited edition s: 50 titled 'A Sign of the Times' and 75 titled 'Night Shadows". Several different art cards and two sets of hasty notes have also been in circulation; some of which are now sold out.
Germain markets her originals and prints through her own home studio in Stonewall, Manitoba, as well as through galleries in Winnipeg. In the past, Shirley has been involved with many art/craft shows to display and sell her work. Since 1996, with her involvement in the first Manitoba Art Expo, she feels she has found the ideal venue to showcase her work, and has participated in this annual event ever since.
You may contact Shirley anytime at her studio in Stonewall. Please call 204-467-7473 for an appointment or e-mail aspengallery@mts.net.
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