Glen Scrimshaw says, “Painting is like breathing”
By Joan Janzen
KINDERSLEY - Visitors to Kindersley’s 36th Annual Trade Show will be excited to stop by Glen Scrimshaw’s booth and check out his impressive artwork. “This is my 39th year,” Glen said. “Thirty-nine years ago I quit my job as a store manager and moved to Laronge to be an artist. Now, the fires in Laronge just tug at my heart.”
Glen moved to Saskatoon three years ago and will take the opportunity to drop in to visit his mom, who lives in a care home at Rosetown, while en route to Kindersley’s trade show on June 12th and 13th. “I’ve had a number of back surgeries and have had to slow down and do smaller shows,” he explained. He was at Kindersley’s trade show a few years ago and enjoyed it so much that he decided to come back again.
Saskatchewan’s acclaimed artist, Glen Scrimshaw will be at Kindersley’s 36th annual Trade Show on June 12th and 13th.
“Timeless Memories” is Glen Scrimshaw’s newest release.
Glen’s latest pursuit is painting rocks. Warning: don’t bite into this hamburger.
“I’m hoping to meet more people and introduce some of my newer stuff to people,” he said. He will be bringing many of his products, including unframed 8x10 matted art cards, as well as 2025 calendars, which he will be autographing. “I’m going to have some work no one’s ever seen before,” he added.
The work no one’s ever seen before includes Glen’s latest pursuit … painted rocks. “I’m working on a cheeseburger right now. It looks really good, but it’s a round rock,” he explained. “Maybe I’ll bring some rocks and paint while I’m there. I’m the kind of person who always has to be doing something.”
He shared stories of his elementary school teacher commenting about a young Glen who would fill his margins with doodling. “When I first opened my art gallery, I would work and visit at the same time, and I used to play Scrabble and paint at the same time,” he said. He may have inherited his multi-tasking tendencies from his mother who he recalled would play 16 cards of bingo and crochet at the same time.
So don’t be surprised if you drop by Glen’s booth and witness him transforming rocks into works of art while engaging in friendly visiting and sharing stories. Glen’s stories will warm your heart.
“When I first moved to Laronge in 1987, we bought a mobile home. I tried to let people know there’s a new artist in town, so I painted a mural in the front of our trailer, and that mural is still there,” he said. “After about eight years, I moved away, and I saw someone was advertising a 14x18 mural by Glen Scrimshaw that comes with a mobile home. I thought that was pretty cool.”
He reminisced about years ago when his youngest child was asked about his dad’s occupation and replied, “My dad sits at home, drinks coffee and colours all day.”
Glen’s professional style of “colouring” has resulted in a following of collectors worldwide, numerous awards and generous donations of his artwork to so many worthwhile causes, that he’s lost track. “There’s been so many over the years. As far as the money we helped raise - it must be millions,” he acknowledged.
His passionate love of painting has become the secret to his success. “To me, painting is like breathing. I try to paint every day. If I go four or five days without painting, something is weird,” he concluded.
Be sure to stop by Glen Scrimshaw’s booth at the Kindersley Trade Show and meet this friendly, multi-tasking artist and check out his incredible artwork.