Celeste Dumonceaux Delahey

You often paint skies and clouds with vibrant colors — what draws you to these elements of the prairie landscape?

I grew up on a Canadian prairie farm and spent my childhood helping my parents farm the croplands, planting and harvesting garden vegetables, and exploring creeks and pastures.  We would often go for drives on a summer evening to ‘check the crops’, look for deer, owls, eagles, foxes and coyotes, and just enjoy the scenery.  We lived in the southern part of Saskatchewan where there were many farms, big skies, gentle rolling hills, sloughs, and small lakes.  I didn’t realize how important growing up in this environment was until I started painting.  I knew instinctively this was what I wanted to paint.  I wanted to capture the beauty and serenity of our province to share it with others.

How has growing up on a farm influenced your artistic vision and connection to the land?

Generally I use my own photos, taken while travelling through the prairie provinces. However, I use other photos provided by my family or friends if they resonate with me.  I will often change the horizon line, place a tree or road in a slightly different position, or use clouds to point to my focal area.  I paint quickly once I begin a piece, immersing myself in the process and emotion of the painting.

Can you tell us about your process when starting a new painting — do you work from memory, photos, or plein air sketches?

I enjoy using pure saturated paint colours but also mix colours to get a warm earthy tone, or dark blue grey for a stormy sky.  I am definitely drawn to the bright blue of the sky, and greens, yellows, and blues of the various crops grown here.

What role does color play in your work? Are there specific hues that hold meaning for you?

Painting to depict peace and space in the Prairies comes from my heart.  I had a very happy childhood growing up on a beautiful farm, learning, working, and playing.  I walked, cycled, drove grain trucks, snowmobiled and explored the natural places around me.

Your paintings depict a strong sense of peace and space. Is this an emotional intention, or a natural result of your environment?

I joined the Mastrius program four years ago and it has been nothing but positive.  The program employs over 200 mentors from which you can choose depending on the area of expertise you are interested in.  I have grown incredibly in my art from the teachings of these mentors.  Each one provides different skills in areas of technique, critique, the business of art, psychology of creating, and much more.

How has your involvement with Mastrius and the Artists’ Workshop painting group helped you grow as an artist?

The art group I meet weekly with, Artists’ Workshop is a group of 10 women all creating and sharing, and providing critiques and suggestions for each other.  We work together towards an annual show and sale providing another avenue for art sales. 

What is your favorite season to paint, and why?

My favourite season to paint is summer for the lush greens, blue skies, brilliant sunsets, and blooming crops. But I also enjoy painting winter scenes, finding the subtle blues and purples and yellows in the snow, and the calm feeling of a blanket of snow over the land.