Men Who Paint work at speed of sun

What do you call a group of men who like to get together to paint?

While the Men Who Paint might not be the most creative name, the group of five Saskatchewan artists saves its inspiration for paint strokes, where they capture the spirit of landscapes across central and northern Saskatchewan in a way that feels like actually being there.

That's because they are there, explains member Cam Forrester. The group takes excursions north as far as La Ronge, as well as to Emma Lake and the agricultural areas south of Prince Albert, and paint as a group.

"We're not like a lot of paint groups, where you would find them in a studio somewhere with a photograph snapped to (their) easel," he said.

"At Emma, we get up at 4:30 in the morning, we get in a boat and go down to the lake and wait for the sun to rise, and the sunrise only happens for half an hour."

While the work is sometimes done frantically, the quick strokes capture an energy in the paintings Forrester said is much more exciting than if they could paint every detail.

The way member Greg Hargarten describes it, the light and weather changes so quickly, they can't fuss over the small stuff.

"Everybody kind of paints like madmen when we're out there."

The group started painting together several years ago when the artists were taking classes together at the Kenderdine Campus of the University of Saskatchewan in Emma Lake.

They only began exhibiting their work together at the Winter Festival, when they attracted the attention of Amy's on Second, where their work is currently displayed.

They enjoy painting, but all work day jobs and come from different backgrounds. Ken Van Rees, a science instructor at the University of Saskatchewan, only began painting five years ago because he wanted to incorporate art into his class.

He said painting has allowed him to see the natural spaces he's studied for so many years with new eyes.

"I always thought a forest was green, but after I started painting, I learned it was more than just green," he said.

Hargarten is easily the newest member, having painted for three years and joined only a year ago. However, Paul Trottier - an art instructor at the Kenderdine campus - has been painting his whole life thanks to the influence of his father, Roger, who is also a member of the group.

But he's still learning, and described painting with the group as "very inspiring and very encouraging."

As for the group's name, Paul Trottier said it's kind of a joke.

"We didn't have anything else to really call ourselves, and it is a statement of, 'We're just a bunch of guys who paint,' " he said, adding they've painted with women many times, though often they get a hard time for the name.

The exhibit is on display until Sept. 13 at Amy's On Second.

tholloway@paherald.sk.ca