Art world bound to see more of youthful painter

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"When I get started, I just can't quit till it's done," says Steena Fortier. The young artist, whose painting entitled "Dusk" was accepted to appear in the annual Asum Mena art competition sponsored by the Alberta Indian Arts and Crafts Society, enjoys water colors and acrylics.

"I love the creativity of it," she says of her painting. "I paint landscapes, skies, animals, structures, anything that catches my eye." Fortier, 19, has been drawing or painting most of her life. With encouragement from her family, especially her mother, her artwork has become a highlight of her free time.

"In high school at Onoway, I had an art teacher named Linda Lawrence who really helped me and made me see more training is essential." Fortier plans to attend high school for one more semester and then enroll at Grant MacEwan Community College or NAIT next January. "Any art course, especially air brush, would be just great," she says.

Fortier hopes to incorporate her Native background more into her art work someday. "My mom takes me to neighborhood reserves, where the rich cultural heritage can be found. We went to Alexis a lot when I was a child," she says.

Fortier's mother Bea adds, "I grew up close to Onion Lake reserve on the Alberta - Saskatchewan border and have always been close to our Cree culture." She is proud her daughter is interested in maintaining contact with her heritage.

Fortier's parents encourage her in every way. "We want her to go further with her artwork and spend as many dollars as we can on seeing she gets all the training she can."

With her own enthusiasm and talent and the support of her family, the art world is bound t see a lot more in the future of Steena Fortier.