Artist shares his life through watercolour

By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor

When Bruce Heming’s mother, an avid oil painter, suddenly passed away in 1982, the then 42-year-old got into a car with his two brothers, George and Glen, and drove to Tofino, B.C. to participate in an art class.
Although the retired lawyer and former RCMP officer inherited his mother’s art supplies, it would take him 10 years after her passing to pick up a paintbrush and discover his passion and talent for watercolour.
Now, a decade after his retirement from Heming & Associates, Heming spends his time painting various memories and life experiences, teaching at the Wheatland Society of Arts (WSA) and pulling out paints for his grandchildren at his home studio.
“In art you can show your talent, in law you just have to read the contract and tell them what it says; it’s quite different,” said Heming.
“When I’m painting and I have an idea with a photograph I’ve taken, and I start putting the paint down and it’s starting to come together, I get excited about it. I can’t hardly wait and I have to keep painting so I can see it finished.”
Heming was born in Moose Jaw, Sask., and moved to Alberta at the age of seven. In high school he discovered a love for art, but quit school to try his hand at farming. After working as an RCMP officer for years, Heming realized the part he enjoyed most about his job was appearing in court. Shortly after, he decided to return to school and study law. It wasn’t until 1991 that he tried his hand at watercolour and joined the WSA the following year. With his retirement in 2008, Heming said he now gets to do the things he enjoys.
Among those things is teaching people – children to seniors –how to paint with watercolours. His works are described as having a regional style working towards realism, as can be seen in his paintings of former pets or a helicopter trip. His passion and love of using art to tell his stories has also caught the attention of society members.
“Bruce is a really talented artist,” said Ken Bourassa, executive director with the Wheatland Society of Arts. “He likes telling stories and that gives his painting charm. He always has a subject matter that has to do with his own personal life, and I think the viewer then comes into that and can access the story through the visual content of that.
“He’s got such a wonderful personality; he’s warm and charming, and he has so many great stories because he’s lived life to the fullest.”
Heming is one of many artists donating work to the society’s first fundraiser event on May 4, the Art Show and Fundraiser. Heming’s work can also be viewed at the Wheatland Society of Arts studio on Third Avenue, where he can be found teaching watercolour classes on Tuesdays.