Daron Letts
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 11/05) - Painter Jan Granberg's artistic career is growing to match the size of her imagination.

The manager of Langlois has painted commercial signs on tin for years and now she's receiving private commissions to paint on canvas. Langlois owner Joni Walker commissioned Granberg to paint a sign to hang above a store display a couple of years ago.

Artist Jan Granberg is painting a washstand to be auctioned as a fundraiser for the Stanton Hospital during the Festival of Trees in December. She also paints tin signs for Langlois, where she works as the manager. - Daron Letts/NNSL photo

Today, with a half-dozen of Granberg's signs installed in the aisles, browsing through the shop is like touring a gallery of her art.

The exposure has resulted in several recent commissions for the artist to paint on canvas and produce works on tin, such as a weather-treated mermaid that will soon stand in a customer's garden. Granberg's tin works are painted in acrylics and covered with a sealant. She can apply an exterior coat for outdoor pieces. She draws a template pencil sketch outline on paper, then has the shapes cut at Hearth and Home.

Her subjects are mischievous mythical characters and placid moments from nature, such as lily pads floating on a pond or twinkling constellations.

"I've been trying to do more and more (art) work," Granberg said. "There's lots to do. It's just a matter of finding the time."

For the second year, Granberg is painting a piece of furniture to be auctioned at the Festival of Trees annual Stanton Hospital fundraiser.

The medium for her auction piece is a chunky Mexican pine washstand with a marble top. She will paint the single cupboard door and the adjacent panels in a water theme.

The bidding starts at the Festival of Trees on Dec. 2.