Theresa Eisenbarth
Canadian artist inspired by the stories of the prairie landscape and small-town life.
Theresa Eisenbarth grew up in Medicine Hat’s historic River Flats neighbourhood, where prairie skies and familiar streets shaped her way of seeing.
Those early memories still guide her work as she returns to the places she remembers—capturing not only how they look, but how they feel: warm, resilient, and rooted in community.
Theresa earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Calgary after studying Visual Communications (now Art + Design) at Medicine Hat College.
After a brief hiatus to focus on family life, she re-established her studio practice in 2012. Since then, she has built a body of work that celebrates the everyday beauty of small-town prairie living through vibrant acrylic and oil paintings.
Drawing inspiration from neighbourhood streets, local businesses, and Southern Alberta landscapes, her distinctive impressionistic style blends soft edges with confident, hard-lined strokes—creating movement, light, and emotion in scenes that might otherwise go unnoticed. Her paintings hold the warmth of memory and the comfort of home. Theresa often incorporates key hardware and text within her work, inviting themes of discovery, connection, and personal story.
Theresa’s paintings hang in private collections, businesses, and exhibitions across Western Canada, gathering inspiration for what comes next.
Ursula Maser
A deep fascination with colour and mark-making.
My name is Ursula Maser, and I’m a self-taught artist and mom to three busy teenagers. We live on a ranch near Irvine, Alberta. When I’m not in my studio, you’ll likely find me shuttling kids between hockey rinks and dance studios, drinking too much coffee along the way!
Art has always been a part of my life. Growing up in a family of artists, I found creativity woven into our homes and daily lives. When my children were little, I turned to painting as an outlet, experimenting with mixed media, acrylics, and art journaling. What began as a personal practice slowly grew into a passion for learning, exploring, and eventually teaching.
Over the years, I’ve embraced opportunities to grow through workshops, classes, books, and podcasts. I love discovering new materials and techniques, but even more, I treasure the connections made through art—sharing creative spaces, exchanging interpretations, and being energized by the presence of fellow artists.
My work is deeply inspired by colour: how it moves us, how it reflects emotion, and how it shows up in the everyday. Often, I return to themes of nature—florals, landscapes, and organic forms—as a way to study colour and celebrate the quiet abundance that surrounds us.
ERIN STELMASCHUK BIEGEL
Art has always been a passion
Since childhood, Erin has devoted herself to making art—beginning with a tiny “studio” tucked behind a living-room chair, where she created paper mâché and painted gifts. In high school, Art Class and Industrial Arts became her refuge, and it was there she was introduced to copper, a material that would become central to her practice.
After completing the Fine Art Program at Grant MacEwan College, Erin’s studio expanded wherever she could claim space—first tabletops and spare corners, then a dedicated area in the basement for larger work. From that point on, she committed to creating full-time. For years, she travelled with the “Night of Artists” from Ottawa to Victoria (and as far north as the tour would take her), sharing her copper work and building the skills and relationships that helped her sustain a career in the arts.
When Erin and her husband started a family, she had an established studio in their backyard and galleries carrying her copper pieces. She stayed close to home to raise her children while continuing to create. In 2020, she proudly celebrated the 20th anniversary of Stelmaschuk Studio.
Erin’s inspiration is rooted in the natural world. Growing up in rural northern Alberta shaped her early connection to lush landscapes, while moving to Southern Alberta 19 years ago opened up
an entirely new visual language—especially the “big sky”, which she describes as standing beneath a glass dome stretching in every direction. Proximity to the mountains also holds a powerful pull for her, continually fuelling her creative energy.
Nature doesn’t simply influence Erin’s work—it drives it. She is drawn to the challenge of capturing something as fleeting as a petal, leaf, or bud and translating it into copper, creating pieces meant to be treasured and passed down through generations. For Erin, making is less a hobby than a necessity: a physical, lifelong need to create.
Her work is held in public and private collections around the world and can be found on her website, at her home gallery, and in select galleries across Alberta and British Columbia.
Erin also enjoys teaching and sharing her knowledge, especially through connection with other creatives and supporters of the arts.
JACKIE DEBLASIO
Pushing the boundaries of art through abstraction
Jackie DeBlasio is an artist who began her art career at the age of 50. She says, “From the beginning, I understood that creating was one of the most integral practices of my life, which allowed me to feel truly self-expressed.”
Studying under Shiloh Sophia and Flora Aubrey, she delved into intentional creativity through the muse and the sacred feminine. This period allowed her to learn to trust her own innate wisdom for guidance, not only on the canvas but within every aspect of her life. It was then that she decided to dedicate herself to simply playing with the movement of colour and composition, allowing herself to create without any agendas and to follow her own internal nudges of unhindered self-expression.
DeBlasio says: “I find nothing more thrilling than to continually push the boundaries of my art as I strive to bring cohesiveness to the wildness of it all. When I paint, my favourite tool is the simple foam brush because it forces me to stay loose and not become too attached to preciseness. My use of colour is directly related to my emotions and experiences felt moment to moment on the canvas. I never have a plan when I approach the canvas and am intrigued by what comes through. What I do know is that each piecewill be bold and dynamic with a strong use of colour and marks. It is my intention that through my art I’m able to feel free and wild and that those who witness it will be reminded of their own innate wildness as well.
” My work is deeply inspired by colour: how it moves us, how it reflects emotion, and how it shows up in the everyday. Often, I return to themes of nature—florals, landscapes, and organic forms—as a way to study colour and celebrate the quiet abundance that surrounds us.
KATHY MANN
Capturing the Essence of Landscapes
The early art journey for Alberta artist Kathy Mann began on a sheep ranch in central Saskatchewan with pencils, paper and models from the Sears Catalogue. Her sisters wouldn’t sit still long enough, reflecting her early curiosity and resilience that continue to inspire admiration in her audience.
Years later, a weekend watercolour workshop put paintbrushes in her hand. Pastel replaced watercolour as a better fit for a busy home and artist mom at the kitchen table. When full-time employment and home renovations left little time for painting, Kathy read every art instruction book she could get her hands on, demonstrating a dedication that inspires respect and admiration.
Painting days on location, with wind, bugs, and other elements, are the most exhilarating and satisfying. Artwork is generally completed in her home studio. The initial painting from life helps capture the essence of a landscape or a person’s personality.
Kathy continues to deepen her understanding of light capture through workshops and classes with talented artists, inspiring admiration for her commitment to growth and excellence.
As a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists, a certified forensic artist, Kathy also holds Master Pastellist status with Pastel Artists of Canada. Her paintings have shown at the Calgary Stampede 2011 and 2012, the Richeson Gallery in Wisconsin, two Westart shows in BC, a solo show “Water Paths” at the Medicine Hat Esplanade Gallery, national Pastel Artist of Canada shows in Ontario, Saltspring Island, and the Federation of Canadian Arts Gallery in Vancouver as well as FCA shows in Vancouver and Calgary and numerous group shows and sales in Medicine Hat, Alberta.
Previously, she taught local pastel and acrylic workshops and classes, which fuelled another passion: encouraging those who had left art behind long ago and helping them flourish in what they thought was lost.
HELEN STUART
Building vibrant and visual diaries
Helen Stuart is a mixed-media artist based in Bassano, Alberta, whose intuitive approach to art results in a vibrant and varied body of work.
Working primarily with collage and other mixed media, Helen builds layers to create a sense of depth and history in her pieces. Her art is a visual diary, drawing inspiration from the world around her, including florals and landscapes.
Helen’s unique ability to transition fluidly from whimsical and lighthearted compositions to dramatic and intense pieces is a hallmark of her style. This range demonstrates her intuitive nature and authentic vision, allowing her to create a truly personal exploration of her soul in each piece. Her work invites viewers to discover the stories hidden within the layers, revealing both a deep connection to her environment and an expression of her inner world.
Megan Weir
Brushstrokes of Grit and Grace.
Megan Weir is a sixth-generation rancher on her mother’s side and a fifth on her father’s — raised on the Alberta prairie with horses, cattle, and the wide-open sky.
The ranching life shaped her, not only through the work but through the moments in between — quiet sunrise rides, the warmth of a horse’s breath, the sound of hooves on frost. These moments taught her how to see the world through an artist’s eyes.
She began painting in 2017, opening a door she hadn’t realized she’d been searching
for. Each brushstroke became a way of weaving together the many parts of who she is —rancher, mother, artist, and woman with a deep love for authenticity and beauty.
Since then, Megan has created hundreds of oil paintings inspired by the land she comes from, the animals she rides alongside, and the stories she continues to live.
Her work is rooted in grit and grace — in strength, honesty, and the kind of beauty you notice when you slow down and truly look.
Each piece carries something of her heritage and her heart: a reflection of the prairie, a breath of freedom, a reminder of resilience.
This chapter of Megan’s life is about building, creating, and sharing — offering the luxury of art not just for walls, but for everyday life.
She regularly exhibits, including at the annual Pure West Art & Artifact Auction in Calgary, and her paintings are held in private collections across North America and Australia.
Weir has received recognition at the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede Art Show, where both of her 2025 entries received Honourable Mention. She continues to expand her exhibition presence with upcoming shows across Alberta and beyond.
GENA LACOSTE
Preserving the Living West, one painting at a time!
Gena LaCoste was born and raised here in Southern Alberta, into a ranching family. The people, the wild places, the animals (especially horses), and the rural lifestyle have profoundly influenced who she is and the filter through which she interprets life.
Gena began drawing and painting all these things while still a preschooler, and it has remained a compulsion throughout her life.
Gena hopes that her intimate, unique perspective on what she feels may be a fading lifestyle will stand as a testament to the many values it offers. There's a lot of pressure to urbanize, and farms and ranches are squeezed from all directions, resulting in what Gena feels is a loss to us all.
Along with Gena's obvious love of horses, she also paints wildlife, florals, and landscapes, insisting that her work be based on her own experiences and photographs.
ART ROOM ON 2ND offers people an opportunity to check out some of Gina’s equine work and to share in her vision of what it looks like to live in today's “Living West"
BETTY KIRSCHENMAN
Attachment to the prairie landscape
I am the granddaughter of German-Russian homesteaders on the prairies, living in the community they worked to establish over a century ago. Attachment to this land is an essential part of my identity and aims to inspire viewers with a sense of pride and connection.
Through my watercolours, I hope to honour the blood, sweat, tears and courage my family invested in the opportunity they were given in the Canadian west. I also want my paintings to reflect the subtle, gracious beauty of the grasslands, coulees, fields and skies that comprise the western Canadian prairie landscape, to draw attention to this unique facet of God's creation.
The prairies tend to be the 'forgotten landscape' too often dismissed as flat, monotonous and monolithic, and frequently portrayed with broad, minimal brushstrokes and a minimal palette. However, this 'empty land' is full of visual rewards and surprises for those willing to invest time and patience. Golds and earth tones, the colours of the prairies, are often overwhelmed by the blue drama of the enormous sky. The unexpected ruggedness of river breaks and coulees comes as a surprise in the midst of deceptively simple flat or gently rolling fields. Winter completely transforms the landscape, revealing the land's contours in brilliant sunlight and dramatic shadows. The transparency of watercolour is exceptionally well-suited for capturing the clarity of prairie light.
After being introduced to watercolour in the early 1980's, I attended several workshops at Medicine Hat College and several summers at 'Series' at Red Deer College. I have benefited from residencies in Ireland, Italy, The Banff Centre, and Quebec, and traveling to other parts of the world has provided opportunities to explore new landscapes.
Involvement in our multi-generational family farm, church and community activities occupies the time not spent on art. In October 2017, a wildfire in southeastern Alberta swept through the area, destroying much of our farm, including the house and studio. The changes resulting from this event continue to influence and challenge my artistic journey.
GEOFF PHILLIPS
The intersection of land, faith, and community.
Geoff Phillips is a Saskatchewan-based artist whose work captures the vast emotional and spiritual resonance of the Canadian landscape while thoughtfully engaging with enduring Christian themes. Through richly layered compositions and an intuitive sensitivity to light and space, Phillips invites viewers into scenes that are both geographically grounded and spiritually contemplative.
Deeply influenced by the prairie horizon and Canada’s park reserves, Phillips was selected as a participating artist in the Canada C3 voyage, a landmark expedition commemorating Canada’s 150th anniversary. This transformative journey further shaped his exploration of place, identity, and faith within the Canadian narrative.
His work has been featured in prominent exhibitions, including Open Channels at Ajagemo Gallery in Ottawa and an international digital showcase at the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany. Phillips has also been featured in Canadian Geographic and various regional media outlets, reflecting the growing recognition of his artistic voice.
Beyond the gallery, Phillips is deeply committed to arts education and community engagement. Collaborating with schools and museums throughout Saskatchewan, he fosters creativity among youth and encourages meaningful dialogue about art, culture, and faith.
His dedication to community development was recognized by the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan Heritage Award, honouring his significant contributions to both the arts and the broader cultural landscape of the province.
Through his practice, Geoff Phillips continues to explore the intersection of land, faith, and community—creating work that resonates with both national identity and personal reflection.
Evelyn (Butuk) Kleis
Capturing the mood and spirit of being alive.
I grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan. My mother was an artist who painted “the things she loved” (she often said) and those things were horses and landscapes. I often sat beside her at the kitchen table drawing horses. We had horses and my mother and I rode together in the area around us.
When I was 12, I spent a week in Banff with my mother (Margaret Mann Butuk) who was taking a six-week painting class at the Banff School of Fine Arts – now the Banff Centre. The sight of a number of young and older men and women painting – both indoors and outdoors - along with the sight and smell of the oil paints stayed with me.
My serious commitment to art began when I joined the Hat Art Club (then the Medicine Hat Community Art Club) in 1963 and we met in the City Hall council chambers once a week. We would cover the desks with plastic table cloths and paint in oils. We had wonderful teachers from the University of Alberta Extension Department. Some of the teachers were Roy Stevenson, Harry Wohlfarth, Bill Duma, Bill Perehudoff and Janet Mitchell.
Luke Lindoe in Medicine Hat taught the Art Club in the 60s and 70s. I attended a Chinese brush painting workshop in Edmonton in the early 80s with a Master painter from China who taught through an interpreter and I was very excited by the “character of line” created by brush and ink techniques. I continued to study this style and technique from Siew Mak here in Medicine Hat and find this way of working has continued to influence my way of seeing and working.
Two workshops (a few years ago) with George Glenn from Prince Albert gave me new ideas and reinforced my desire to attempt to communicate through the medium of art.
Over the years I have worked in watercolour, oil, oil pastel, brush and ink, mixed media and collage. I have done some hand-built clay sculpture and really enjoy that medium and hope to do more of it. I have studied art therapy of the Institute of Art Therapy in Victoria by attending several workshops and conferences.
The paintings in “Art Room on 2 nd ” were inspired after several trips to Italy and seeing how dogs are part of the population moving around the cities with their owners and just as equally – citizens.
I don’t try to do realistic representation but to capture a mood, and spirit of being alive.
I am excited about life. As I age, I am very aware of the present, the moment and I hope to share this interest and excitement in my work.
I don’t paint what I see so much as what I feel about the place, time, subject and colours in the scene.
I hope some of these feelings are shared with the viewers.