Inuvik (Feb 25/04) - For Inuvik artist Janet Mildner-Lie, it was a tough secret to keep.

Though it was announced officially Monday that her painting was chosen for the cover of NorthwesTel's 2004/2005 telephone directory, Mildner-Lie knew about it back in October.

Inuvik artist Janet Mildner-Lie with her painting entitled "Campbell Lake," which was chosen to grace the cover of this year's NorthwesTel telephone directory for the Northwest Territories. - Jason Unrau/NNSL photo

"It sure was difficult not to tell anybody," said the artist after her acrylic painting was unveiled. "But, as I felt in October, I'm honoured and delighted that my work was chosen."

Anne Kennedy, director of public affairs for the phone company, says that to ensure the directories will be on time for printing and then delivered in March, a decision has to be made in October.

Mildner-Lie's painting of the bluffs around Campbell Lake was one of 48 works submitted to NorthwesTel's annual competition.

Born and raised in Saskatoon, Sask., Mildner-Lie's love of art began at a young age.

As a self-taught artist, she established a name for herself painting and marketing her work throughout British Columbia's Okanagan Valley before moving to the North in December 2002.

"I can tell you that I certainly enjoy painting more than marketing the paintings," she said.

By being featured on the cover of this year's telephone book, Mildner-Lie is sure to become a household name in the territory and can perhaps focus more on the painting side of things in the near future. "I appreciate the opportunity to have my work featured on the cover of a book that reaches so many people," she said.

"It can sometimes be difficult to find ways for the public to view your work and the directory cover program is a great way to do it."

Her winning entry is a landscape painting, but Mildner-Lie says she enjoys painting whatever she's in the mood for.

"I'd describe myself as a practical painter," she said of her subject matter. "Lately, I've been painting things like bookshelves or furniture, decorative painting of things that you already need in the home."

Her 'decorative' painting can also be seen in the Eskimo Inn where she completed two murals on its restaurant wall.

In addition to having her painting on the cover of the phone book, Mildner-Lie received $1,500 and a set of limited-edition prints of her work.

And she joins the ranks of other renowned NWT painters, including Mary Okheena and Archie Beaulieau, whose work has also been featured on the NorthwesTel directory.

For 20 years, Northern artists' works have been featured on the cover of the phone book. While NorthwesTel previously commissioned its cover art, due to overwhelming queries from artists wanting to have their work featured on the directory the company has held this annual contest the last four years running.