Library features artist and author for February

By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor

Carol E. Cowan never knows when inspiration is going to strike. She finds it in the Canadian western landscapes, mountains and rivers, and even the apple tree in her back yard.
When that itch occurs, Cowan grabs a nearby paintbrush and creates yet another piece of art to add to her already vast body of work – a collection that is featured in her latest book Canadian Western Landscapes: Through the Years.
The book, Cowan’s second published work, has been out on the shelves for the past five months and will be the cornerstone of Cowan’s visit to the Strathmore Municipal Library on Feb. 10, when she will take part in a book signing and a meet-and-greet. Cowan’s art will also be hanging in the library’s newly renovated gallery space for the month of February.
“I can read an art book like I read a novel because I understand it, but so many people don’t understand this, so all they want to do is read the pictures and that’s one more reason why I did the book,” said Cowan. “They’re beautiful pictures and people can go right to it and appreciate it.”
The book covers 40 years of art and features seven poems – some written by Cowan herself. Over the years, her paintings have included western landscapes starting in Calgary, and spanning across Okotoks, Jasper and Banff, and down the west coast; all are now featured in a book containing nearly 90 pages.
Cowan grew up in Okotoks but it wasn’t until she moved to Gladys Ridge in 1977 that she began taking oil painting lessons at the community hall. Since then she’s dipped her paintbrush in various mediums including water colour and acrylic.
With her art career spanning four decades, Cowan has worked with numerous instructors and other artists, and prides herself in hue mixing, the value of colour harmony and composition.
“It’s a wonderful universe out there, and the first time I painted it just opened my eyes to see things that I never saw before,” said Cowan. “I saw the textures on the leaves, and colours I’ve never seen before, and they’re just so amazing. There was a certain amount of joy in what I was putting on canvas; it just seemed to come from within. Once I got started on those first oil painting lessons I was off and running.”
Over the years, Cowan has also provided instruction in oil, acrylic and pencil, and she published her first body of work and poems in 1992. Her second book features a greater array of paintings and fewer poems.
Starting in February, Cowan’s paintings will be displayed at the local library and she will be the first author and artist to be hosted in the fireplace section of the facility.
“We’ve hosted artists who have published books who had maybe a picture or a painting or two within the pages of the book; but with Carol she’s published a beautiful book that features many of her pieces of art throughout the years,” said Carmen Erison, assistant director of library services at the Strathmore Municipal Library.
“We’re very pleased that we’ll be able to display these beautiful pieces of art on our walls. It brings an opportunity to showcase talent and art, and help artists sell their pieces. I think what we bring to the art community is a chance for exposure for artists to represent themselves in a beautiful setting.”
Carol E. Cowan’s art will be hanging at the Strathmore Municipal Library from Feb. 1-28. She will be available at the library for a book signing on Feb. 10 from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.