Majestic golden hills and breathtaking coulees feel infinite in Forever Grasslands, a solo exhibition by Alberta-based artist Colin Starkevich. These large-scale paintings pay homage to the wildlife that thrives within this resilient ecosystem. As the viewer steps closer, they’ll encounter every blade of grass, every feather marked within these realistic depictions of wildlife, from the solitude of a rock wren above the South Saskatchewan River to the adventure of a prairie dog’s survival. These works speak to the significance of wilderness and the life within them.
Colin explains, “I feel the paintings in this exhibition raise awareness of the Alberta grasslands as well as celebrate the conservation efforts that maintain these wild spaces. The natural grasslands region motivates and inspires me to utilize my abilities as an artist.”
Colin’s paintings begin in the places that inspired them. His plein air paintings of the prairie inform his large-scale works. “My plein air paintings and drawings are produced on location, where I strive to capture the essence of the landscape as opposed to the detail of the place.” Then, over many months, he produces his paintings in studio, where both his creative intuition and inspiration thrive.
Holding a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, a diploma in wildlife and fisheries conservation, he also uses his academic foundations to fuel his artistic endeavours, raising awareness of the beauty and fragility of the grasslands. His painting Burrowing Owl Fledglings visually articulates the vulnerability of this endangered species. One of the smallest species of owl, they nest in burrows dug by other animals on the prairie, much of that prairie utilized for agriculture.
He explains, “I’m fascinated by wild places, creatures and relics, many of which have been lost or fragmented due to agriculture, urbanization or industrialization. I’m intrigued by how the landscape and wildlife in this region have adapted to our modern society, and I seek to capture these changes in my paintings.”
As the human species continues to infringe on wild spaces, Forever Grasslands reminds us of both the fragility and strength of our natural world, and the animals striving to survive within it.
Bio: Colin Starkevich fell in love with the Grasslands at nineteen during a camping trip in southern Alberta, a moment that continues to shape his art. His work celebrates the beauty and fragility of the region, aiming to inspire conservation and personal reflection. Invited by renowned artist Robert Bateman to attend his Master Artist Seminar at twenty-one, he has since earned accolades including a solo exhibition at the Royal Alberta Museum and a residency at the Wallace Stegner House. A member of Artists for Conservation, the International Guild of Realism, and the Federation of Canadian Artists, Colin combines his background in Environmental Sciences and fieldwork as a wildlife technician to inform his realist paintings of nature and wildlife.
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