Artist helps Humane Society

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This article was published 09/08/2023 (1142 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon’s Doug Brolund is a well-known artist, and at 83, says money is not what compelled him to sell his art. It was charity, which is welcome news to a local animal shelter.

A recent art show held at Brolund’s art studio saw dozens of pieces go to new homes to help the dogs and cats who call the Brandon Humane Society home.

“I’ve been painting for years, and I have many pieces, so, we decided to put on a show,” Brolund said. We’ve always had cats and dogs, and I thought, maybe we would be able to move more of them if people saw that the money would be going to a good cause.”

On the other end of the donation are the “80 to 100 animals” at the Humane Society, according to executive director Tracy Munn, who added that the money will go straight in the bank to help pay the bills.

“We received almost $3,000, and we needed it desperately,” Munn said. “Our veterinarian costs are high, as is our food bill — and we don’t get a break from our supplier, our hydro bill in the winter was $900, and we have a water bill of $25,000 a year.”

Munn is one of two full-time staff people, with “part-timers” who work two to three hours a week, and volunteers who log countless hours helping with the shelter’s day-to-day operation.

“I think people know where the money will go, and it won’t be for administrative costs. The washer and dryer we purchased were to wash the animals’ bedding and the fridge was not for us, but for the dogs’ and cats’ medications. This is about the animals.”

Despite the soft spot Brolund has for the Humane Society, he also donated a portion of sales to the Artist Heart Collective, which he is part of, that was created by a group of creatives looking to encourage art in Westman.

“I want to keep giving money to the Artist Heart Collective, too. There’s a group of us, and we often meet and paint together, so, our goal is to raise money and ultimately donate it to Brandon University for a scholarship,” Brolund said.

It was art that captured Brolund’s attention and imagination, he said, when he was in junior high school.

“I was going to Earl Oxford school in about Grade 7, and we saw this National Film Board clip of a guy sitting out in the grass on the side of a hill sketching an old shed with trees around it, and I thought, wow, that’s pretty amazing, and it seemed like something I could do, so I figured I’d do it,” Brolund said.

The first medium Brolund used was oil paint when he was still in school, using a set given to him by his principal that was donated by the Brandon Art Club.

While he honed his craft, Brolund had his art featured in Killarney’s Heritage House for the Arts, Legasse’s Studio of Fine Art in Souris, the Prairie Showcase gift shop in Brandon, and most recently, he painted a scene with an old church in Crandall, which is west of Hamiota.

And just last Christmas, his son gave him a set of watercolours.

“So, now I’m doing a lot of watercolours,” Brolund said as he laughed.

“I mostly do landscapes and quite often I’ll be out for about an hour and a half with my little stool, folding paint kit and tripod base. I usually take a photo with my phone, and when I go home, I finish from the ground up, fine-tuning the details. But I try to mark down the colours and the basic shapes while I’m there so I can get the colours right and then fill in the details from the phone. It works pretty good,” Brolund said.

Brolund estimated he has about 200 pieces in his collection, and with each sale, will continue to donate to the Humane Society and the Artist Heart Collective, because “my wife and I are retired and are fortunate that we’re OK, so, I’m not really doing it for the money.”

He creates art for the beholder, he said.

“I want people to get peacefulness out of my art. And, without speaking, I guess I am asking, look at what I see — do you see it?” Brolund added as his voice broke with emotion.

For more information on Doug Brolund’s art, visit facebook.com/douglas.brolund .

An annual fundraiser is planned for this Friday and Saturday at the Humane Society. The yard sale will feature new and gently used items for people and pets including, collars, leashes, kennels and beds, as well as school, office and craft supplies, home décor and houseware items.

There will be a 50/50 and raffle prizes during both days of the sale — Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — held at 2200 17th St. East.

» mmcdougall@brandonsun.com

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