Marie Sveinson

Marie has been painting since she was a child, following the footsteps of her mother, who was also an artist. It became more than just a hobby for Marie in 1984 when she was approached by the Markerville community to create an art gallery in the newly restored Markerville Creamery. This is when she established the Creamery Gallery and Gift Shop (1986). She has since studied with many artists.

Her first foray into the art world saw her drawing and painting the interesting historic buildings in and around Markerville. In 1994, she and her late husband Ken represented the Stephan G Stephansson Icelandic Society at the Icelandic National League (INL) Convention in Iceland. The INL became the bridge between Iceland and the Western Icelanders (as the Canadian people of Icelandic decent are called). After having visited her family’s homeland, Marie started to paint from photographs Horn-Skorradal (her Grandmother’s home) and scenes of Iceland like Looking Toward Búlandstindur, as well as scenes of old and new Markerville and her family’s life here. Her heritage became her inspiration.

Marie enjoys painting animals, old buildings, and landscape scenes, but her heart follows her true joy of oriental brush work on rice paper.

For people who want to see more of Marie’s work, her studio, Grass Roots Art Studio (named after her search for her roots) is open by appointment.

Inspiration for my painting has been derived from the expressions of delight on the faces of individuals when I succeed in capturing childhood memories in a painting, whether this was their first home, school, or the church in which they were married. This nostalgia rekindles a passion in me, to portray even more wonderful stories of a life almost forgotten by the passage of time.

Grass Roots Art Studio



Artist’s Statement:

Growing up in the little community of Markerville, Alberta, gave me a sense of adventure and mystery. I vividly recall the stories my parents and grandparents related of their ancestors’ voyage from Iceland to Canada—their long arduous journey across the prairies to the new land of “milk and honey.” All this took place more than one hundred years ago, and it is my dream to preserve these stories in paintings, sketches, and words—to find balance between historic authenticity and artistic interpretation of the spirit of those days. In portraying these historic images, the homesteads, the untamed natural scenes, I have relied on historical accounts, archival and family photographs, onsite sketches, and a certain amount of artistic license.

Inspiration for my painting has been derived from the expressions of delight on the faces of individuals when I succeed in capturing childhood memories in a painting, whether this was their first home, school, or the church in which they were married. This nostalgia rekindles a passion in me, to portray even more wonderful stories of a life almost forgotten by the passage of time.

Artist’s Biography:

Although Marie was born in the Innisfail General Hospital in 1938, her family lived in Markerville and she claims that as her hometown. Marie was born of Icelandic and English parents, married a man also of Icelandic and English heritage, Ken Sveinson, in 1959, and raised her two children on a farm near Markerville. Marie attended the University of Calgary and taught school in Red Deer, Innisfail and Spruce View. She studied Early Childhood Education at both Athabasca University in Edmonton and Red Deer College, finishing in 1982. She enjoyed 12 years with Spruce View ECS before retiring in 1991.

She studied watercolour techniques with Albert Schmidt in 1986, Art Fundamentals with Ian Cook in 1987, and in 1992 studied Contemporary Oriental Brush Works on Rice Paper with Thep Thavonsouk at Series ’92, all at the Red Deer College.

When the Stephan G. Stephansson house was designated an Historic Site in 1975, Marie was asked to display her sketches of the Markerville buildings and homes at the celebration. In 1989, when the President of Iceland, Vigdis Finnbogadottier, visited Markerville, Marie’s painting of the Stephan G. Stephansson House was presented to her.

In 1992 Marie was awarded the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation, recognizing her contribution to Art, Community Service and Education.

Partial List of Exhibitions:

2000 – Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery Solo Exhibit – Icelandic Connection
1996 – Alberta Community Arts Clubs Association, Rocky Mountain House, AB
1995 – Spring/Fall Shows, Clearwater Fine Arts Society, Rocky Mountain House, AB
1990-99 – Scandinavian Julestue, Danish Society, Innisfail, AB
1994 – Dr. George/Kemp House, Innisfail, AB
1992 – Series Exhibition in Oriental Brush, Red Deer College
1991 – Artists from the West Country, Danish Society, Visit of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, Dickson, Alberta

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