James Misfeldt
Along those Saskatchewan grid roads, he takes joy in a scene that is familiar to everyone. He says, driving by pasture after pasture brings him a sense of calm. It’s because of the cows.
James watches as the cows graze, as they slowly walk around, seemingly aimlessly, like they have no worry in the world. That’s when he takes out his camera phone then clicks a few images of the cows. It is the beginning of a process for the visual artist, who is also a playwright. Misfeldt says when he is engrossed in writing; sometimes the storyline gets heavy. Taking a break this way and driving is his way of balancing out. “In the past, when I’d been working on plays, and the storyline gets to a scene that might be dark, I sometimes need to just leave my writing and concentrate on something else. Often, the plays I write are based on conflict. That’s why I get out into the countryside. The cows come up to the fence line and, with those big eyes, watch me. They are okay with the world.”
The peaceful feeling he gets from observing the cows doesn’t just stay in his memory. Upon arriving home, Misfeldt is often motivated to take out a blank canvas. Then, brushstroke after brushstroke, he recreates the rural scene in the form of a painting.
James Misfeldt
He says that making the cow paintings has become a safe place for him. It is where he goes, anytime he is seeking the serene. The paintings are abstract, filled with bright colours and exaggerated lines. He says those who see the images generally offer a positive response, “People find my coloured cows delightful. But, how could I have purple and orange cows? I was using primary colours to capture the prairie sun. On the prairies, the warm sun comes out often and reminds us all that life is good.”
For over a decade, this routine of painting cows has been a regular part of Misfeldt’s artistic practice. He estimates that he’s created at least fifty cow paintings. Some of the pieces are hanging in his home in Regina Beach, others are part of private collections, and some have featured as part of gallery exhibitions in Regina Beach and Melfort. “I hope people are finding the cow paintings as a way to get away from the world, even if only for a moment. I know I do.”
James Misfeldt
He considers the colourful images to be - good medicine for the soul - which he intends to continue making because the cows continue to inspire.
Misfeldt is a South Shore Art Guild member based in Regina Beach. The group meets at the Last Mountain Lake Cultural Centre on the first Wednesday of each month. Any artist is welcome to join.
By Carol Rose GoldenEagle
