In 2016, artist Shawna Lampi-Legaree set out to create a series of 60 small paintings for her annual show. When she sat down to paint an image of a bird from a photo as one of the 60, she was struck by its eyes.
Natalie Pressman/ NNSL Photo
Throughout her career, Lampi-Legaree, owner of the Yellowknife Dancing Raven Studio, has painted flowers, still life, houses, toys and a range of other subjects, but from that photo came a painting called SA国际影视传媒業mpossible Eyes,SA国际影视传媒� and a new fascination with birding that inspired Lampi-Legaree to paint the winged creatures full time.
SA国际影视传媒淥nce you start to look at (them), itSA国际影视传媒檚 like you opened up a secret world. A world that most people walk right past and donSA国际影视传媒檛 even notice,SA国际影视传媒� she says.
Honing her style and creating a series of bird paintings is what helped Lampi-Legaree obtain her newly-awarded senior signature status with the Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA) SA国际影视传媒� a peer reviewed award of recognition. She is the first artist in the NWT to earn the distinction.
The Federation grants two levels of signature status, associate (AFCA) and senior (SFCA). Once awarded, the artist can add the letters next to their name to indicate national credibility.
Photo courtesy of the Canadian Federation of Artists.
While most artists only achieve SFCA status after being an AFCA, Lampi-Legaree learned last week that she went straight to SFCA. It's a highly unusual decision from the FCA that speaks to the quality of Lampi-LegareeSA国际影视传媒檚 work.
Patrick Meyer says that in the seven years heSA国际影视传媒檚 been the FCASA国际影视传媒檚 executive director, he has only seen it happen three times.
He says that part of the honour in achieving signature status is that the jury is made up of working artists who understand the trials of producing work at that level.
The FCA is SA国际影视传媒渇or artists, by artists,SA国际影视传媒� he says. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 grass roots; itSA国际影视传媒檚 bottom up; itSA国际影视传媒檚 recognizing the quality of another artist. Even though (the FCA) was started in 1941, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 a very new idea in the art world,SA国际影视传媒� Meyer says, referring to the majority of curator judged competitions that he calls SA国际影视传媒渁uthority figure driven.SA国际影视传媒�
Lampi-Legaree recalls that she nearly missed the deadline to apply for the status. She wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 sure she would be able to complete the paintings up until the day before.
SA国际影视传媒淗onestly, I wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 sure. And then all of the sudden, right at the end, it always does this and ISA国际影视传媒檓 always surprised, the painting just went SA国际影视传媒榃hoop, OK ISA国际影视传媒檓 done.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淓verything happens at the right time,SA国际影视传媒� she says.
Lampi-LegareeSA国际影视传媒檚 success comes after many rejections and failures. She says rejection is always disappointing at first, but then you move on and get back to working on the next project.
SA国际影视传媒淚t certainly is exciting when you get in though,SA国际影视传媒� she says.
Although she has now made a career of it, Lampi-Legaree has only been painting since 2012, having worked in quilting before then. In addition to taking classes and sheer practice, Lampi-Legaree credits much of her success as an artist to discipline and patience.
