It has been long enough that Phyllis Herman couldn鈥檛 quite recall the year she last had a show at the Godfrey Dean Gallery.
But the artist said she was happy to be back.
鈥淚 approached Don (Stein) if there was the possibility to have one,鈥� she explained Sunday during an artist reception focused on her latest show.
That was a couple of years ago. The interim time was used to create most of the works in the show.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e all pencil and coloured pencil,鈥� said Herman, who explained she had used both in portrait art in the past, but the new show focuses on scenery.
Herman finds the inspiration for her pieces by hitting the road with her camera.
鈥淚 go out and take pictures out in the country,鈥� she said, adding she has recently been attracted to old buildings which allow her to capture images of the area鈥檚 past in her works, adding if they are not soon captured they may be gone.
鈥淭he Tonkin elevator鈥檚 not there anymore,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he Phone Hill School is not there anymore.鈥�
Herman said it is becoming more difficult to find buildings not already lost to time, but she enjoys photography and the search.
鈥淭here鈥檚 still a few I haven鈥檛 photographed,鈥漵he said.
To have the material to inspire an art piece Herman said she takes photographs from various angles.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always an asset when there鈥檚 a nice big cloud in the sky behind [the building]. I think it adds to it because Saskatchewan skies are so vivid.
鈥淎nd I like doing skies.鈥�
For Herman, 82, art has always been part of her life.
鈥淚 was always drawing in school as a kid,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檇 stay drawing on the blackboard during recess as there wasn鈥檛 much to draw on at home.鈥�
Along the way, Herman said she took a few classes locally, but for the most part her art has been self-taught.
And now she even does some instruction herself, all part of staying active in her art.
鈥淚t keeps my mind going. A major part of staying young is the mind,鈥� she said.
