In preparation for her annual art show, Shawna Lampi-Legaree painted for 102 days straight.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e always treated (painting) like it's a full time job,SA国际影视传媒� Lampi-Legaree, of Dancing Raven Studio, said.

SA国际影视传媒淚 have to schedule sitting down during my day because I stand to paint,SA国际影视传媒� she laughed.

Her dedication to the craft has been central to her success as a visual artist in Yellowknife, and the end result of her latest flurry of brushstrokes was revealed Friday at her SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 Only NaturalSA国际影视传媒� exhibit, a nod to nature featuring a collection of watercolour and acrylic renderings of flowers and feathered friends found in and around Yellowknife.

At Visual Effects, the site of Lampi-LegareeSA国际影视传媒檚 seventh annual offering, an array of the artistSA国际影视传媒檚 colourful creations adorn the walls: yellow warblers in the springtime, mallards under falling snow, chokecherry-nibbling robins, hydrangeas, fuchsias and wild roses.

Lampi-LegareeSA国际影视传媒檚 paintings, brought to life from still images taken during her many hours of bird-watching, follow a high-realism style. The artist uses a multi-layer wash technique with watercolours, sometimes adding six or seven layers to a single flower petal.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 an approach Lampi-Legaree says builds a visual crescendo while capturing the SA国际影视传媒渄rama of sunlight and the depth of shadows.SA国际影视传媒�

When painting flowers, Lampi-Legaree turns to watercolour, a SA国际影视传媒減erfectSA国际影视传媒� medium for the subject. She employed acrylic paint for the various birds captured at this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 show.

After years of quilting, Lampi-Legaree began taking painting seriously in 2012, poring over hours of instructional videos to hone her skills. With no local watercolour group to practice with, she started her own, launching the Yellowknife Watercolour Society.

Lampi-Legaree now teaches beginner drawing and painting classes and has entered works into a number of juried exhibits.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 Only NaturalSA国际影视传媒� marks the artistSA国际影视传媒檚 second showing at Visual Effects. Before moving into the space, Lampi-LegareeSA国际影视传媒檚 home was her gallery. She hung paintings in her dining and living room for five consecutive shows, opening her doors to Yellowknife art lovers.

In May, Lampi-Legaree took a masterclass from wildlife artist Robert Bateman, an experience she says has broadened her approach to capturing the world outside.

SA国际影视传媒淚 was painting birds but now ISA国际影视传媒檓 thinking environment: where are the birds? What is the context?SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Lampi-Legaree tries to be as accurate as possible when painting birds. If something isnSA国际影视传媒檛 right, birders in the community will be sure to let her know, she said with a chuckle.
Already planning ahead for next yearSA国际影视传媒檚 show, Lampi-Legare said painting and showing her work continues to push her year after year.

SA国际影视传媒淪howing keeps me challenged and keeps me moving forward so that ISA国际影视传媒檓 not staying in the same place,SA国际影视传媒� Lampi-Legare told Yellowknifer.

SA国际影视传媒淧ainting allows me to explore."

It also offers to her an escape SA国际影视传媒� often from the cold winter months in Yellowknife. Painting blooming flowers and fluttering birds transports her to warmer time; a reminder that summer will return, Lampi-Legare added with a laugh.

But Lampi-Legare is painting for others just as much as she is for herself.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 engaging with the audience. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 connecting with people,SA国际影视传媒� said Lampi-Legare.

SA国际影视传媒淧eople come in and they have stories about birds, or they have stories about flowers and how theySA国际影视传媒檙e connected to someone that they really loved SA国际影视传媒� their father grew irises, whatever they story is,SA国际影视传媒� she continued.

The emotions her paintings conjure and the connections they create are what keeps her going SA国际影视传媒� even after 102 consecutive days.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 Only NaturalSA国际影视传媒� runs until Nov. 8 at Visual Effects, located at 4905 48 St.