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Look at familiar surrounding with ‘new eyes’ and see beauty, says Red Deer artist

Works by Rita Schoenberger are showing at KWNC until June 22
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Red Deer artist Rita Schoenberger often paints outside in natural settings. Her artworks can be seen until June 22 at the Marjorie Wood Gallery in the Kerry Wood Nature Centre. (Contributed image).

From central Alberta’s back roads to European capitals, Red Deer artist Rita Schoenberger always aims to capture the visual enchantment of her surroundings.

Does she feel she meets her goal?

Well, no artist is ever completely satisfied with their work, said Schoenberger. That’s why her exhibit, showing at the Marjorie Wood Gallery in the Kerry Wood Nature Centre until June 22, is called Beautiful Imperfection.

The 27 displayed paintings reflect landscapes from around the world — from Alberta to Mexico and Prague. Often Schoenberger painted in plein air, or outdoors, at the scenes she is trying to capture.

Her forest and beach paintings are contrasted with cityscapes from the year she spent in Prague, in the former Czech Republic. She was teaching English as a second language there.

Each piece demonstrates the struggles and joys of being an artist, said Schoenberger in her artistic statement. “The end result of each painting is unique, imperfect and beautiful.”

Since she believes attaining perfection is an illusion, “as an artist I can only continue to paint, to trust the process,” said Schoenberger, who hopes viewers will “stand back, observe and enjoy.”

The artist who has taken many art classes over the years, after raising her children, is inspired by a quotation from Marcel Proust: “The real voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”

Schoenberger added that visual drama is available to all, “if we but pause, quiet our breathing and observe the spaces we inhabit.”