Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 23/98) - After moving to Hall Beach four years ago, Ina Wesno picked up her discarded paint brush and began to paint the startling new images that surrounded her.

Always an avid painter, the former Ontario resident stopped creating art in university but realized later on that something was missing from her life.

"If you have a talent, don't just take it for granted. I thought I had better things to focus on but it's not only therapeutic, it's worthwhile. I really missed it," said Wesno, 31.

She now has about 15 canvasses that she considers worthwhile, four of which are on display in Iqaluit at the Iqaluit Fine Arts Studio.

"(The gallery owner) has asked me for more and I assume he wants to do some kind of show," said Wesno, who has left behind the old themes that once occupied her imagination for more Northerly topics.

A teacher as well as an artist, Wesno said she planned to keep exploring the Arctic environment through her brush and through the eyes of her students for as long as possible.

"I don't think art had been a strong focus before for a lot of the students...and it should be more of a focus because it's a strong source of self-esteem for them."

She said that many of the students had absolutely no idea that they harboured any creative juices but that as soon as she stocked up the school's art supply cupboard and passed on some of her techniques, they were amazed at their own natural talents.

Wesno has taken this enthusiasm and desire to learn and used it to teach herself more about her craft.

"I've found that I've changed quite a bit. The students see other things than I do and that encourages me to develop in areas I hadn't considered expanding on."