An Okotoks artist is displaying her work in the Leighton Art Centre's current exhibit.

"Vistas, Visions and Viewpoints" opened January 13th and features the work of five artists, including Okotoks painter Virgini Senden.

Senden, who has 10 pieces on display, paints in acrylics and oils and describes her art as graphic realism.

"I like colour and I like some kind of abstraction of a scene, but I don't like it when you really cannot see anymore what it is," she explains. "My paintings, in general, they are more abstracted than a realistic painting but still you can see what it is, you can see the mountains and everything. I put a lot of emphasis on line and shape and colour."

Senden describes herself as an optimist and says she tries to incorporate that feeling into her art and provide people with a viewing experience that is so inviting, it makes them feel like they want to step inside the scene.

She primarily paints landscapes, animals and flowers and says she doesn't have to go far to find inspiration for her work.

"When I go outside, which I do a lot, I'm outside every day whether it's minus 30 or plus 30, there are so many beautiful things around us," she points out. "We don't have to go far for it, although I think that Alberta is blessed with very, very beautiful scenery."

Senden says she was honoured to be chosen as one of five artists to be featured in the exhibit and notes that the unique work of each artist comes together "beautifully" to create an "amazing' exhibit. Although she has been a member of the Leighton Art Centre for a couple of years now, this is her first time displaying her work at the gallery.

Of her 10 pieces currently featured, she says there's a couple that stand out for her, including one called "Tombstone Mountains in the Fall."

"I just love the fall, it has so much drama for me," she says. "I think, in this painting, I really managed to put that drama in, it's very colourful, it's very bold and for me, it has lots of movement and that real feel of the fall. It's really close to my heart."

She points out that the Leighton Art Centre, which is surrounded by beautiful scenery of its own, provides the perfect backdrop for an exhibition celebrating landscapes and nature.

"Vistas, Visions and Viewpoints" runs until February 24th, 2018.

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