'I hope I was able to do it some justice': Artist works to perfect style in portraying Sask. prairies
The Saskatchewan Legislative Building was host to an art show, portraying life on the prairies.
The show was the work of Saskatchewan visual artist Tana Cugnet, who lives on a farm outside Weyburn.
“That’s where we’re from. When you drive down the roads in southeast Saskatchewan you see pump jacks, you see canola crops, you see grain elevators,” Cugnet explained.
“It’s a lot of what’s around us and I think those are just the images that I’m drawn to.”
The show marks Cugnet's first exhibit outside of her hometown. She told CTV News that she’s always working on her style and her process while building confidence in her work.
“I work in acrylic paint which is very forgiving. That’s probably the best quality I like about it is that sometimes if you mess up you can paint it over,” she said.
“Just started trying to work on different techniques and trial and error and a little bit of YouTube.”
Her prairie themed creations are in demand for private art collections. She was intrigued by a recent request to create a painting from a photograph.
“It’s of the Battle Creek area in Cypress Hills. I was even more intrigued by who has been asking me to paint it.”
The request was from former Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall who wanted the photo taken by his daughter turned into a painting.
Wall was at the legislative building this week for the unveiling of his official portrait and later stopped by the gallery for a first look at the work he had commissioned.
“Tana has killed it. It’s fantastic. I love it,” Wall told CTV News.
“I hope I was able to do it some justice,” Cugnet said.
The encounter proved to be another boost in confidence for an emerging artist on the Saskatchewan prairies.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Loblaw ends No Name price freeze, vows 'flat' pricing 'wherever possible'
Loblaw will not be extending its price freeze on No Name brand products, but vows to keep the yellow label product-pricing flat 'wherever possible.'

Family in remote northern Ont. reeling after daughter killed in fire, home destroyed
A family in the remote community of Peawanuck, Ont., is dealing not only with the death of their young daughter, but the loss of everything they owned in a Jan. 28 house fire.
opinion | Don Martin: Trudeau meets the moment – and ducks for cover
Based on Justin Trudeau's first-day fail in the House of Commons, 'meeting the moment' is destined to become the most laughable slogan since the elder Pierre Trudeau’s disastrous campaign rallying cry in 1972, which insisted 'the land is strong' just as the economy tanked.
Canada Post honours Chloe Cooley with stamp in time for Black History Month
A young Black woman who resisted her own enslavement in Queenston, Upper Canada, in the late 18th century is being honoured by Canada Post.
Economy grew by 0.1 per cent in November, Statistics Canada says
Statistics Canada says the economy grew by 0.1 per cent in November.
Pakistan blames 'security lapse' for mosque blast; 100 dead
A suicide bombing that struck inside a mosque at a police and government compound in northwest Pakistan reflects 'security lapses,' current and former officials said as the death toll from the devastating blast climbed to 100 on Tuesday.
'Laverne & Shirley' actor Cindy Williams dies at 75
Cindy Williams, who was among the most recognizable stars in America in the 1970s and 80s for her role as Shirley opposite Penny Marshall's Laverne on the beloved sitcom 'Laverne & Shirley,' has died, her family said Monday.
Federal agency targeting illegal wildlife trade through financial intelligence
Canada's financial intelligence agency is stepping up the fight against the illicit wildlife trade by taking aim at the criminals who reap big profits from the global racket.
Russian business offers cash bounties to destroy Western tanks in Ukraine
A Russian company said it will offer five million roubles (US$72,000) in cash to the first soldiers who destroy or capture western-made tanks in Ukraine, after the Kremlin vowed Russian forces would wipe out any Western tanks shipped to Ukraine.