Lake Country artist Sheila Tansey rediscovered her love for art after attending ArtWalk for the first time.

In 2009, she was sa国际传媒渂lown awaysa国际传媒� by the dedication the community gave to Okanagan Vallery artists.

And she has participated in the walk ever since, selling her whimsical paintings of bikes, Volkswagon Beetles and Okanagan scenery.

sa国际传媒淚t inspired me to start painting seriously. Isa国际传媒檝e always been an artist. My mom painted, you know, she was my initial influence, but life happens. I took art classes here and theresa国际传媒� but I hadnsa国际传媒檛 taken it seriously until I moved here. Art Walk is definitely what pushed me,sa国际传媒� Tansey said. sa国际传媒淧eople liked what they saw and what I like about why I paint, I realized is how I can connect with people. I paint because people can connect with my art.sa国际传媒�

Both the welcoming art community and the landscape inspired her to pursue a career as an artist.

sa国际传媒淚 paint a variety of things that just come out of my head too, but definitely the mountains, the lakes, nature, wildlife, thatsa国际传媒檚 been an influence to me,sa国际传媒� she said.

READ MORE: Lake Countrysa国际传媒檚 art scene thrives as population grows

People are also starting to recognize Tanseysa国际传媒檚 work, which she said improved when she compared her art to others at the event, now in a 25th anniversary year.

Lake Country artist Denise Patrick, who is also treasurer for the Lake Country Art Gallery, will display her Night Garden series for this yearsa国际传媒檚 event and has been involved with ArtWalk since 2005.

sa国际传媒淵ou learn from the other artists in the walk,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淕oing to the ArtWalk is a huge education.sa国际传媒�

Anne Wise, organizer on the ArtWalk committee, said it started in Holiday Park, before it grew too large and was taken over by the District of Lake Country.

The event has also been growing, with more than 300 artists and 7,000 visitors expected this year.

The venue size has also increased, Wise said.

After its initial location and startup, the walk moved to George Elliot Secondarysa国际传媒檚 gymnasium and it continues to expand, now using up the entire space of the community complex and stretches to the Lake Country Art Gallery down the street.

Itsa国际传媒檚 also helped establish Lake Country as an art-focused community.

sa国际传媒淚 think establishing Lake Country as an arts community is a great idea,sa国际传媒� Wise said.

It also brings all sorts of people to the district, some plan their vacation around it, Wise said.

Tansey said she spoke with people from Texas and sold a piece to a woman from Switzerland.

This yearsa国际传媒檚 theme is the sa国际传媒淎rt of our Times,sa国际传媒� which coincides with the Lake Country Art Gallerysa国际传媒檚 latest exhibition sa国际传媒淪ign of the Times: the Art of Protestsa国际传媒� which will have gallery members and Art Walk artists contributing their opinions about the current local and global climate.

READ MORE: Lake Country art exhibit focuses on protest

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 an opportunity to reach a wider audience,sa国际传媒� said gallery manager Petrina McNeill.

McNeill said art contextualizes concepts that may be hard to grasp, and the role of the artist is to comment on the world around them.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 how we mentally process these things that are perhaps bigger than ourselves. Itsa国际传媒檚 processed through visual art, itsa国际传媒檚 processed through music, through film,sa国际传媒� she said.

The gallery will be participating in the Art Walk by displaying protest signs as part of its exhibition outside its location at 10356 Bottom Wood Lake Rd.

The Art Walk features artists from Osoyoos to Kamloops. Visit venues, displays, performances, buy original art and watch artists compete in hour-long Quick Painting and 15 minutes Paint Off competitions Sept. 8 and 9 at the Community Complex. Admission is $2.

carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .