KENOSEE LAKE - DeLee Grant knew in Grade 1 that she loved art, as it was her favourite subject in school, and this continued throughout school years.
As an adult, Grant worked full-time for the federal government. She farmed with her husband Larry and raised two sons. She rarely had time for her photography or painting, but she did not give up on her love for the art.
Grant and her husband Larry farmed fallow deer, 300 of them, while they both worked full time off the farm as well.
They would often trailer their horses and ride the trails. The west block of Cypress Hills Provincial Park was a favourite place and, on the ride, out would come the camera. Grant would photograph landscapes. She has taken in scenic views throughout Saskatchewan. She has captured the beauty of the land in Vietnam and in Panama as well.
After moving to White City, Grant began to focus on her second career, that being a photographer and artist.
Although Grant enjoys taking pictures, she loves to paint. Her work has been displayed at the Artist Colony of Moose Mountain Provincial Park for the second straight year.
She loves to paint on site. This is called plein art, which means painting what you see while sitting outside. Grant paints with oil and acrylic, but also with a paint called gouache. She enjoys painting old homesteads and anything that catches her eye, nature wise.
“I take my painting very seriously,” Grant said.
This shows in the beautiful pieces she has completed and has on display at the colony.
Having travelled to the United States, she attended the Plein Art Festival in Idaho in July 2019 and Utah in September the same year. It is a weeklong event of painting. After the week is finished, one piece is selected for competition. Grant won the Award of Excellence.
For the past two years, this event was not held due to the COVID-19 restrictions, but she is hopeful it will begin again.
Grant is the president of the Brush Works Art Guild in Regina, where they hold shows twice a year, one in the spring and the other in the fall. She also takes part in the Regina Performing Arts Centre.
If you did not get a chance to see Grant’s work at the colony, it can be viewed in Regina.
