‘See what I see’: Ratt excited for first exhibit at Mistasinihk Place
It was a proud moment for local artist Molly Ratt to be invited to showcase her work next month at the La Ronge Arts Council’s gallery in Mistasinihk Place.
“When they asked me to do a full exhibit, that was pretty exciting and it made me feel really happy about it,” she said. “It will make me glad to see everybody smiling because they do love my work and it makes them feel comfortable. They say it looks real like a photograph and that’s a big accomplishment to make it look like one. It makes me feel happy I get to show all the work and let people see what I see.”
Ratt’s painting will be shown throughout the month of October and she will have up to 15 on display. She stated her work is inspired by northern Saskatchewan either from specific locations or from memories she’s trying to recreate. Ratt, who paints from a small patio at her home along Lac La Ronge in Bells Point, finds ideas for her paintings by looking out at the lake or remembering times during her childhood at Wapawekka.
Ratt began painting at a young age, but she didn’t start doing it full time until 2004. She credits her late uncle James Ratt and her cousin John Halkett for providing advice during the earlier days when she was just developing her skills. As a child, Ratt began painting images like rainbows on tree fungus, then eventually began to add more details like trees and the sky.
