By Shinoah Young

Aboriginal artist helps local business through mural

Sep 22, 2013 | 8:27 AM

Earl McKay always felt he needed to escape and has used painting as a way to do that.

“I’ve been painting all my life,” said McKay.

As a youngster, McKay was raised in foster homes and never got to feel the stability and love of one family for much longer than a season lasted.

Years later McKay is still using painting as an outlet, and doing it in front of a crowd, “It doesn’t bother me,” he said. “To paint in front of crowds. I just shut everything out and from there I can just be in my own little world.”

On Saturday he stood beside his latest four paintings, stoic, yet relaxed, as he stroked away, paint brush in-hand, at the creation of an eagle flying over rugged terrain.

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The paintings are being donated to Anglers Sports Shop in South Hill Mall.

“I could be at home right now painting 10 to 12 hours a day, but my friends here Bill and Drew they let me set up here every weekend to come and paint and to get a little more exposure for myself. Not only that, I like meeting new people. I like talking to people,” said McKay.

McKay’s paintings consisted of trees from northern Manitoba, rock and various animals carousing illustrious landscapes. The four-canvas mural spanning more than 20 feet is worth about $10,200.

“There is a lot of people that come in and look at this and say ‘Hey, I’ve been there,’ and you know, I get so emotional, you know, because I did something- I’m doing something that hits people in the heart,” said a teary-eyed McKay. “I’m glad about that, I’m very happy about that I struck something inside them.”

Vibrant colours, changing seasons and glistening waterways such as lakes, streams and ponds all sprinkled atop canvases of acrylic paints were aligning the walls of Anglers Sports Shop.

McKay tried something new with toothbrushes, sprinkling on northern “ribbons of light” across stretches of sky on several canvases, and then McKay entered those paintings in an application to receive further funds. The work earned him $6,000 of grant money, as his paintings were selected by the Saskatchewan Arts Board committee last year to be funded, so he could expand or be reimbursed for his artwork.

His future plans include a website and more exhibitions.

Some of McKay’s paintings hang in the Northern Lights Casino in Prince Albert.

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