Carolyne Herperger has journeyed all around the 100 Mile House area to photograph images that catch her eye.
During the past few months, the Horse Lake resident has used acrylic paints and brushes to transfer some of those photographs to canvas.
Along with several pieces of her older work, they form Herperger’s newest show, Around the Cariboo, which is featured at Showcase Gallery until the end of April.
Expect to see detailed renderings of classic Cariboo sights, such as the Butte Rock, rustic ranch scenes, an old water pump and other familiar sights.
Her favourite piece in the show is a scene of an old farm and cattle. “I knew the people who lived there on Timothy Lake Road.”
The paintings showcase the character and charm of the region, which captures the heart.
Herperger likes to choose a new theme each year in order to push her to try new things, and leave her comfort zone. Last year, she focused on grasses, and this year, she’s targeting water.
She has lived in the South Cariboo all her life and grew up near Wright Station in Lac la Hache. There weren’t many opportunities to study art, so what she knows, she mainly learned on her own.
Her artistic aunt sparked an interest for painting in Herperger when she was young. The woman would bring her paints and brushes whenever she came from the city for a visit, and the two of them would paint together.
From that point, she has been mainly self-taught, keeping on a constant learning curve.
When children came on the scene, however, Herperger stowed away her art supplies, as many women do, and didn’t use them again until 2000, when she began reviving her drawing skills. From there, it’s been a constant progression.
Her sister is also an artist, and when the two of them get together, they venture out to photograph those special images that will one day become paintings.
Herperger has a love for detail, which she can’t suppress in her paintings. A growing appreciation for the use of colour is having a positive effect on her painting, which excites her.
“It’s something I haven’t done in the past, and I’m enjoying it.”
She has more than a dozen paintings featured in her show, and people can view them Monday to Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Showcase Gallery is located in the main lobby of the Cariboo Business Centre at 475 Birch Ave.
