Painting in Oils, Acrylics and Watercolours, Drawing in Graphite and Pastels

Artwork Copyright © Brenda McKenzie

Since childhood Brenda has always been painting or drawing, initially doing simple landscapes and then portraits of family members. She is self taught but had some instruction during her time at the University  of Manitoba, faculty of Interior Design.

In 1971 she moved to Pinawa where she met her tutor, Vivian Thomson. They were part of a group of people who formed the art collective, Pinawa Art 211. In later years this evolved into a teaching /display club that held regular meetings, participated in large displays and sales at annual Pinawa Birthday Party events, Christmas fairs and other gatherings. Members were regular participants in the regional art exhibition, the Eastman Judged Art Exhibition. In 2013 Brenda hosted the event with the help of all the members of Pinawa Art 211, their spouses and friends.

Brenda is a visual artist at home with most mediums: oils, acrylics, watercolour, graphite and pastels. With Vivian’s encouragement she also worked briefly in clay.

When Vivian retired as the art specialist for the Whiteshell school district, Brenda took her place until her own retirement in 2004.

Today she works as a volunteer at the Pinawa Art gallery, paints, and works on written projects. Her first book, “Loving You” chronicled her time as a caregiver to her mother-in-law as dementia slowly took her away mentally but not physically. Today her second book is being edited to include maps and illustrations. The story intertwines two narratives of the birth of a new religion led by women but supported by the men, and of its possible demise two thousands years later.