FROST ART AND ARTISTS 2024

Jaynie Himsl uses fabric and a domestic sewing machine to create her art. Social concerns, life experiences and her love of big prairie skies are her inspirations. Design classes over the years along with sewing skills practiced for decades provide a firm base for her creativity. Working intuitively, she uses a variety of materials and styles to complete her original textile art. Jaynie Himsl is an award-winning artist whose work has been exhibited in solo and group shows provincially, nationally and internationally. She resides in Weyburn, Saskatchewan.

Artist Website: http://jayniehimsl.ca 

Instagram: @Jaynie_himsl_fibre_artist

The colours of a rose bush in winter are contrasted with fresh drifted snow.

Madison Rayne Pascal is an emerging Saulteaux Métis artist based in Regina, Saskatchewan. Working mainly in painting and drawing, her practice examines the emotions surrounding her identity and mixed ancestry. Madison’s poetic and detailed images invite the viewer to share in the intimacy of her experiences, connecting through the immortalization of nostalgic objects and the preservation of treasured memories. She works from her studio in downtown Regina.

Instagram- @madisonpascal
Facebook- @Madison Pascal Studio
Website- http://www.madisonpascal.ca/

Regina downtown during the winter has some of the most beautiful scenery: the sunset reflecting off of the Hill Towers, snow falling from the branches in Victoria Park while chickadees flitter above, and the crisp crunch of the snow underfoot after a fresh snowfall. Winter is also the time for gathering and storytelling; an incredibly cherished tradition in Indigenous culture. This design is of a woman wrapped in comforting fabrics, drinking tea from her grandparent’s Corelle mug. Winter is a time in my family to come together, and to cherish the stories and memories.

Born on the East Coast and raised in the Prairies, Cai has built her artistry mostly online and through the places she’s lived. She has participated twice before in Regina Downtown’s art projects, both with Urban Canvas alley doors in 2018 and in the first Frost Festival in 2021. She aims to make art her career someday, but for now, it’s her favourite hobby.

Artist Website: https://caiyre.wixsite.com/artwork 

Instagram: @end_fox

Twitter/X: @caiyre

Saskatchewan is known as the “land of living skies.” So I took it literally, turning the night sky into a deer, of which there are many living in the fields of our province. And the sky gives life to the pine trees and the grass and plants in the melting snow at the deer’s feet. As well, I wanted the deer to be bright and glowing, which you see better at night like the stars and the northern lights.

Brandy Jones is an Inuit/Gwitch’in artist originally from Williams Lake, BC who now makes her home on Treaty 4 Territory in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Brandy’s work represents the unity of all Indigenous Nations, and her work forms a unique original style. Brandy uses her gifts to educate, inspire, and motivate people to explore the beauty of Native cultures.

Instagram: @BrandyJonesIndigenousArt

Facebook: @BrandyJonesIndigenousArt

 Boy plays hockey, an acrylic piece, imaging what life in winter is like here in Regina. 

Geanna Dunbar, from Treaty 4 Territory, is a Cree-Métis spoken word, visual artist, and entrepreneur from Regina, Saskatchewan. She works in mixed media collage, sculpture, acrylic, street art, chalkboard and window painting, and large-scale murals. She practices branding scarification, body piercing, machine tattooing, skin-stitch, and hand poked tattooing. With a special interest in sustainable art and interdisciplinary community collaboration, Geanna often sets personal challenges that help her grow and deepen her relationship with her environment and with others. Geanna started in the body modification industry in 2015 with piercing. She traveled to the United States to learn under the Association of Professional Piercers in 2016 and 2017, and in Las Vegas in 2019. Seeking a more intimate and inclusive environment, Geanna branched out on her own in 2019 in Regina. 2021 introduced her to the revival of Indigenous tattooing and her mentorship with Stacey Fayant, a Cree-Métis artist from Earthline Tattoo Residency. Geanna’s most recent work is the 300 square foot path mural “The Path of Reconciliation” located on Scarth Street Walkway in Regina.

Instagram: @geannadunbar

A piece that features Old City Hall Mall, new City Hall and the Legislative Building, with floral accents that are planted downtown every summer.

Pepito Escanlar was born in the Philippines and immigrated to Regina in 1975 after completing his degree in Architecture from the University of Santo Tomas. His early works have been included in juried art exhibitions such as the Arts Saskatchewan at the MacKenzie Art Gallery; and the Saskatchewan Open at the Mendel Art Gallery. His entries consistently won awards at the annual SaskArt Exhibits in Regina. His two-person exhibits included “Pepito Escanlar / Gerald Jessop: Acrylics & Watercolours” (1984) and “Pepito Escanlar / Beth Gaffney: Regina Scenes” (1989) at the Rosemont Gallery (now the Art Gallery of Regina); and “Pepito Escanlar/ Ronald Davis Provincial Touring Exhibition” (1985-87), sponsored by the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Council. He was a recipient of a grant from the Saskatchewan Arts Board in 1987. Escanlar’s works were featured in several SGI Canada Art Calendars. His time for artworks was reduced in the late 1990s as priorities shifted to family responsibilities and full-time job. He retired in 2016 after 41 years in the architectural field to pursue his passion for painting. In 2019, he participated in Artists’ Talk organized by the Dunlop Gallery. His artworks were featured in “Pamana: Sights and Sounds of Philippine Heritage” at the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa. His artworks were also included in the 2019, 2020, and 2021 Urban Canvas Downtown Regina Programs, as well as the 2022 Frost@Downtown. The “Alaala” Art Exhibit at the Philippine Consulate General in Calgary on September 2022 featured Escanlar’s artwork along with the works of Patrick B. Fernandez.
Pepito Escanlar’s commissions included artworks for the Government House Historical Society and SGI Canada; Stations of the Cross for the Resurrection Church in Regina; a mural project at the main lobby of the All Saints School (Swift Current); and “Saskatchewan Heritage” mural commissioned in commemoration of Canada 150.

Facebook- @Pepito Escanlar

On October 24, 2023, I woke up to find our backyard covered with snow – it was the first snow of the season. While the snow covered most of the ground, the remaining autumn colours stood out against the white background.

Saskatchewan-based artist Kayla Hanson is a Humboldt native and avid nature enthusiast. Having lived and traveled in nearly all corners of the province, she is inspired by the flora and fauna that changes considerably from region to region. She enjoys being able to use her gift to celebrate the range of natural properties that induce memories and honor the spirit of a bloom or creature that is meaningful to the viewer. Her mainstay is admittedly acrylics, but as her home business 32 Flavours suggests, she utilizes several mediums and offers many artistic services with graphite, ink, coloured pencil, watercolour, oil, sculpture, sewing and woodworking.  Her wares can be found in several communities around the province, including her Saskatchewan-shaped plaques, prints, and her celebrated, pandemic-induced colouring book, “Colour Saskatchewan!” 

Facebook: @32Flavours

My work often explores the natural habitats of Saskatchewan during the summer months. When I take the time to shift my focus on Saskatchewan winters, I am always drawn to the memory of the first time I saw a blue jay. I was taking in a valley-view of monochromatic tints and shades of snow, bare trees, and an overcast sky when on the feeder landed a brilliant, blue bird. Suddenly the red berries on the Mountain Ash tree and the poinsettia at the window came into focus, creating an instant artwork in my mind. This memory is now the piece you are standing before!

Harley Sinclair is an Indigenous artist, hailing from Regina and is registered as a member of the Peepeekisis Cree Nation in the File Hills region of Treaty 4. Born in Lethbridge, Alberta in 1988 and raised in southern Saskatchewan, Harley’s artistic inspiration is drawn from the vast prairie landscapes, living skies, and turbulent life experiences that have shaped his worldview. Growing up in Regina in the 1990s as a child of the foster care system, Harley’s early years were marked by adversity and isolation. Despite these challenges, with the support of his peers and foster family, he was able to nurture and develop his natural artistic talent. His work is a testament to the power of perseverance and the resilience of the human spirit. His pieces are characterized by their emotional depth and ability to provoke introspection and reflection. They challenge the status quo and invite viewers to experience the cultural richness and diversity of the Indigenous experience. Harley’s art is a testament to the power of self-discovery and the transformative role that the arts can play in our lives. As his career continues to evolve, Harley remains committed to pushing boundaries and exploring new avenues for creative expression.

Instagram: @harleysinclairart

Website: https://harleyfinearts.ca

This piece was first thought of last year when I snapped this photo while walking to my vehicle. Being present is something I started doing more of last year and it has opened my eyes to a more wonderful world around me. The views we take for granted, the bushes we walk past, the same route we take to our jobs, the same puddles, lush lawns or snow drifts we encounter in our daily lives. It is all so wonderfully beautiful and just changing your perspective can have a drastic affect on how you view the mundane in your life. 

I wouldn’t describe myself as a self-taught artist because nature is my teacher and has given me inspiration to colour with my heart. Every aspect of nature that I incorporate into my artwork is touched by my soul because it speaks to me. I mainly use acrylics, alcohol, and occasionally oil colours.

Facebook: @Madhavi.matta.39

This painting portrays that a Cardinal is a positive spiritual message from the heaven at Christmas time.

Ingrid Van Opstal is a self-taught, multi-disciplinary artist and muralist hailing from Regina, Saskatchewan. After working in BC Tourism for a decade, she returned home and to her art practice during the pandemic. She has participated in numerous events and exhibitions showcasing her work in both provinces and abroad, with her most recent project taking her to Nicaragua. Collaborating with other artists and organizations, Ingrid is passionate about public community-based murals and their ability to reach a wide audience while engaging with members of local communities. “Leaving a personal mark to bring new energy to any type of space or canvas is what I strive for, while connecting with my audience that may be able to relate to my style of vibrant colors and motifs.”

 Instagram: @ivfineart

Facebook: @Ingrid Van Opstal

We see the hare change throughout the seasons, as we all do. They are a reminder that no matter what life brings to us, we can survive the harshest conditions with the moon as our guiding light during the cold winter months.

Rawry & Pohly consists of co-founding Calgary artists; Kevin Chow, B.Bus (Mrktg), and Jamie Mason B.A. (Eng), B.Ed. Their journey began in 2010, when Chow gifted Mason a teddy bear, the exact duplicate of his own childhood plushie (Pohly), which she named Rawry, but it wasn’t until September of 2014 that Chow and Mason began toying with combining their styles and stories, armed with dollar store sharpies and acrylic paint on canvas and a sense of fun. They began representing their own paintings and artwork, touring across Canada since 2015, following their love of pop culture.

 Artist Website: https://rawryandpohly.carrd.co /  

Instagram: @rawryandpohly

The second piece of Rawry & Pohly’s reimagination of their 90’s childhood bills growing up in Canada, this one $1000 bill was something that was always kept safely at home and not deposited into the bank by Pohly’s  grandparents. Rawry on the other hand never knew this existed or was real.