Before she was an artist, Katalin Kovacks was a kindergarten teacher in Hungary. Still, she had to be creative.
She would paint, but only for her students, illustrating poems and fairytales. She was close to art then, collected it, loved it. But she never thought of herself as an artist.
Now, the South Cariboo resident who immigrated to British Columbia over 10 years ago is telling her story by a display of bright and colourful Florida landscapes, watercolours she painted this year wintering in the Fort Lauderdale area.
Kovacks is a member of the Cariboo Artist’s Guild (CAG). This winter she joined an art group in Coconut Creek, Florida, and had a very productive few months, venturing out with a brush every week to capture another picturesque scene the Sunshine State had to offer – the thick greenery of Tradewinds Park, for instance, or a sunset in the Everglades.
Those paintings are hanging at Showcase Gallery in 100 Mile House for the month of May.
“I love landscapes,” she says, adding “it’s always a nice feeling” having her work on display.
Kovacks moved to the Cariboo with her husband in 2004 and fell in love with the region. She likes the conifers, the mountains, sunsets at Horse Lake. She joined the CAG in 2007, volunteering at Parkside Art Gallery in 100 Mile House and refreshing and improving her art skills with a number of local classes and workshops. She says joining the group has really helped improve her painting. CAG’s goal is to promote the local art scene and inspire local artists.
“It’s a very nice and productive group,” she says. “Everybody is helpful.”
Kovacks has sold paintings in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. Her favourite medium is watercolour.
She describes one painting currently on display, titled “Always Together”.
She painted it on Valentine’s Day. It’s of two trees without leaves side by side in the February sun before green rolling hills.
“It was fun,” Kovacks says. “You feel the love in the air.”
Showcase Gallery is located on the main floor of the South Cariboo Business Centre on Birch Avenue in 100 Mile House.
