Head True North for local art

Five minutes outside of Sun Peaks, nestled in the small village of Whitecroft, resides two artistic minds creating scores of art; for their own enjoyment, and the enjoyment those who appreciate nature and its beauty. Allen (Al) and Judy Kalas’ love story began in a high school art class, where they were not only attracted to the skills and creativity within themselves but also each other.

Their workshops, scattered with rainbows of glass panels, glass cutters and grinders, authentic birds’ nests, deer antlers and mountains of various art supplies, are located alongside their business, True North Designs. Al, a pottery enthusiast and stained glass entrepreneur; Judy also a potter, a painter and sketch artist both retired from their full-time jobs as a forest technician and interior designer respectively, and came to the area in hopes of finding inspiration to continue their artistic pursuits.

“When we retired we thought we’d had enough of the harsh winters and we wanted to go down where it’s nice. The natural beauty of the mountains and the trees is what made us want to settle in the area,” explains Judy.

Originally from Windsor, Ontario, Al and Judy made their way north west, landing in Fort Saint John for 11 years, where they still have a significant amount of followers to this day. Their works range from beautifully crafted stained glass suncatchers and mirror pieces to authentically inspired, realist wildlife paintings; delicate silk pillows to unique, pit fired pottery in all shapes and sizes. Each piece captures a small part of the vast beauty of the outdoors, lending their art nicely to the appreciation of nature enthusiasts. Al and Judy’s art is showcased in two galleries, one in Fort Saint John and the other in Kamloops, and the two say sometimes it’s difficult to keep up with the demand.

“Before we retired we had, I think, seven stores across Canada that were selling for us and it just got too busy and we just couldn’t keep up, so we cut back,” says Al.

The two believe in opening their spaces and welcoming others to appreciate their work, and also the work of other local artists. Currently, they host a few pieces of local artist John McKnight’s wood carvings and say they’re looking to support more artists in the future.

“We’re going to have more local artists represented here as well,” says Judy. “We’re going to put out, sort of, a call for artists sometime down the road and offer a small space for people to put a view of their pieces; because art’s so subjective.”

The two tend to create works influenced by personal inspiration, but they do take some special requests from customers who have something particular in mind. They even come across the occasional request to recreate past pieces that have struck more than one soul.

Al’s passion for art began as a young boy with drawing for beginner’s type books, such as John Gnagy’s Learn to Draw — coincidentally, Judy had the same book growing up! Both were encouraged through high school, by an enthusiastic teacher, to pursue their artistic motivations. Judy now follows realist wildlife artists closely, depicting nature as it is.

“David Kitler, Robert Bateman and Terry Isaac are my art heroes,” says Judy. “I admire them, not only for their art, but also the things that they stand for and the work they do for conservation.”

To view their pieces head down to Whitecroft. True North Designs is located at 7320 Cahilty Crescent; third house on the right.