Sara Wilson

Standard Reporter

The resume is getting longer for Langdon artist Joel Sinclair, with a recent national recognition to top the list of his accomplishments.

The Society of Canadian Artists has welcomed Sinclair to the prestigious list of accomplished artists.

"I submitted 10 pieces and then they put you up in front of a jury of other people in the society and then they elect you in," Sinclair explained. "All the jurors have to agree and come to a unanimous decision."

The father of two's work caught the eye of the judges due to its unique appeal.

"I think my work is unique compared to a lot of the work they have there in the society, to me that's one of the main reasons they chose me," Sinclair

said.

The watercolour master focuses his attention on landscapes, a passion that has been with the artist since he was a child.

"For me I just love being in nature," Sinclair said. "From when I was a kid I would just pack up a sandwich and pick a direction and just go walking. I've always loved the landscape. It's a way for me to take a piece of that and bring it back to people."

The accomplished artist owes his love of art to his father, Robert Sinclair, a well-known artist and member of the Royal Canadian Academy of the Arts.

"My father is a painter. It's in the genes I guess you'd say," Sinclair said. "I went through the Alberta College of Art and Design and graduated in 1996. I went off to be a web designer for 12 years, and sold my half of the company to my partner and decided to pursue my art full-

time."

The decision has paid off for Sinclair.

In addition to joining the ranks of other nationally recognized artists, Sinclair has been showing his work all over the country, with a spot on the 43rd Open National Juried Exhibition running in Toronto from June 15 to 25.

"I just had an exhibition with The Arts Without Boarders in Lloydminster," Sinclair said. "I got third place landscape and the year prior I got a first place landscape."

Raised in Edmonton, Sinclair has moved around a bit, and considers Langdon

home.

"I grew up in the country, I remember growing up outside of the city and when our kids were born we decided to move to Langdon," Sinclair said. "It's more of a community, everyone knows each other the parents help each other out with the kids."

The small town has provided much motivation and inspiration for the landscapes Sinclair paints.

"I either work out of my house in Langdon, or at my studio in Calgary," Sinclair explained. "I like to get out and paint around Langdon. I have a series, a prairie series and that's primarily of around Langdon."

While the accolades keep rolling in for the watercolourist, the dream of showcasing his work throughout the country drives him to push forward.

"Ideally I'd like to be showing in most of the major cities in the country," Sinclair said. "I'm already showing in Edmonton, and talking to some galleries in Calgary, but I'd like to get a gallery in Vancouver and Toronto and Winnipeg and probably out in Newfoundland."

To learn more about Sinclair or to view his work, visit his website at www.joelsinclair.com