Artist Theresa Eisenbarth answers questions during her live painting session at the Esplanade gallery on July 10. (CHAT News Photo)

By Chris Brown

Three more live sessions

Theresa Eisenbarth happy to add QandA to painting sessions at the Esplanade

Jul 12, 2020 | 9:56 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Halfway through a schedule that sees Theresa Eisenbarth transform a black and white painting into a colour masterpiece live in the Esplanade gallery the most common question she gets isn’t even about the painting she’s working on.

Instead, people want to know about the keys in Eisenbarth’s other paintings at the Walking the Flats exhibition.

“We never really told anybody that I use that in my work so when they get down the first leg to where I’m painting and that’s usually the question that pops up is ‘how come you use the keys in your paintings?’” Eisenbarth said.

A couple of years ago the Medicine Hat artist found a box of keys in her studio and began putting them in her paintings.

“I end up explaining that and then they go around the rest of the exhibit looking for the keys in the paintings,” she said, adding, it turns the exhibition into a bit of a Where’s Waldo? thing.

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Eisenbarth is happy to answer any and all questions though as she paints “The Smell of Lilacs.”

On Friday she started adding layers to the painting, which depicts an alley in the Flats, which makes the painting pop with a new vibrancy. She said people will get a better sense of the painting’s development with the added colours.

She’s previously done live paintings downtown and is enjoying this experience, which allows her to connect with people in a different way.

“I hope people take the opportunity to come down and ask the questions and visit. I’m open to any discussion and questions about working and how I work,” Eisenbarth said. “I think it’s a great addition to the show.”

Eisenbarth will be back in the gallery to paint on July 16 and 17 from 2-5 p.m. and July 23 from 1-5 p.m.

On Aug. 6 the artist will host an evening walking tour inspired by the exhibit. She’ll share stories and memories about the neighbourhood and how they inspired the exhibition.

More information on the live painting and walk can be found on the Esplanade’s website.