The Studio
Art Encompassed is more than a gallery. It is a working creative studio where ideas are developed, refined, and brought to life.
While our Narrative Sculpture Collection represents the future direction and heart of our long-term vision, the studio is home to a wide range of artistic pursuits. Visitors can explore original oil paintings, murals, scale models, historical recreations, and other handcrafted works, each reflecting a shared passion for craftsmanship, storytelling, and artistic exploration.
The studio also serves as the creative workshop where our monumental installations take shape. From the earliest concept sketches to intricate sculpting, fabrication, lighting, and finishing, visitors can follow the progression of works as they evolve over months and, in some cases, years.
Our Journal offers an ongoing look behind the scenes, featuring project updates, new works in progress, exhibition news, outreach milestones, and insights into the creative process. We also share announcements about workshops, youth art classes, community events, and other opportunities to engage with the studio.
Whether you’re interested in fine art, model making, painting, murals, or simply following the journey from concept to completion, the studio offers a place to experience creativity at every stage.
Luseland Cenotaph Mural
Commissioned by the Luseland Cemetery, this mural honours the sacrifice of Canada’s veterans. Created as a place of reflection and remembrance, it stands as a lasting tribute to those who served and gave everything for our freedom.
The Flying Cloud
Was constructed by Shaun in the most unlikely of workshops: the closet of house. Built entirely within that tiny space, it stands as a reminder that every journey begins somewhere, and that passion has never been limited by the size of the workshop.
Homesteaders
Commissioned Mural | Hardisty, Alberta
Commissioned for a family-owned business in Hardisty, Alberta, Homesteaders celebrates the heritage of prairie life through a peaceful scene of livestock, gardens, and harvest. Inspired by the resilience and traditions of those who built the West, the mural was created to welcome visitors while honouring the agricultural roots of the community.
Vanity of Vanities
Oil on Canvas
In Development
Inspired by the dramatic light and layered compositions of the Dutch Masters, Vanity of Vanities explores the cost of fame through the image of Marilyn Monroe.
As admiration becomes possession, the painting invites viewers to look beyond the icon and encounter the woman whose identity was gradually eclipsed by the image the world created for her.
Borrowing its title from the Book of Ecclesiastes, Vanity of Vanities reflects on the fleeting nature of beauty, celebrity, and worldly acclaim, reminding us that what the world exalts is often the very thing it consumes.
The Measure of Beauty
Oil on Canvas
Privately Acquired
Blending the dreamlike symbolism of Surrealism with one of Hollywood’s most enduring icons, The Measure of Beauty challenges our obsession with physical perfection.
Portrayed with a transparent torso that reveals the skeleton beneath, Marilyn Monroe becomes a reminder that every idealized image is built upon the same fragile human foundation.
The Measure of Beauty invites viewers to look beyond appearance and reconsider the standards by which we measure beauty, reminding us that beneath every icon… we are all simply human.
Lilies of the Field
Oil on Canvas
Privately Acquired
Inspired by the biblical reminder that true worth is found beyond outward appearance, Lilies of the Field presents Marilyn Monroe in a rare moment of quiet reflection. Draped in rich crimson fabric, the painting contrasts elegance with vulnerability, inviting viewers to look beyond the icon and see the humanity beneath.
As artists, we are drawn to the stories hidden behind familiar faces. Our work seeks to move beyond appearances, reminding us that beauty may capture the eye, but it is character, struggle, and the human spirit that leave a lasting impression.
Fragments of an Icon
Oil on Canvas
Privately Acquired
Rendered in a contemporary Cubist style, Fragments of an Icon reimagines Marilyn Monroe as a collection of intersecting shapes and vibrant colour. Rather than presenting a single, complete portrait, the painting reflects the many identities projected onto one of history’s most recognizable faces.
As artists, we are fascinated by the stories hidden beneath public personas. This work explores the idea that no individual can be defined by a single image, reminding us that identity is layered, complex, and shaped by far more than what the world chooses to see.
Golden Idol
Oil on Canvas
Privately Acquired
Inspired by the ornamental elegance of Gustav Klimt, Golden Idol explores the way fame can elevate a person into something almost sacred. Marilyn Monroe is presented as both woman and icon, surrounded by luminous gold and intricate patterns that evoke reverence while questioning the cost of being placed upon a pedestal.
As artists, we are drawn to the tension between admiration and identity. Through each work, we seek to look beyond the legend and reveal the humanity beneath, reminding us that even the most celebrated figures long to be seen not as idols, but as people.
American Bloom
Oil on Canvas
Privately Acquired
Inspired by the bold colours and graphic language of Pop Art, American Bloom reimagines Marilyn Monroe as both cultural icon and artistic symbol. Vibrant patterns and simplified forms celebrate the energy of popular culture while reflecting on the way fame can transform a person into an enduring image.
As artists, we enjoy exploring familiar subjects through different artistic movements, discovering how style can change the way a story is told. This painting is a celebration of colour, creativity, and the timeless ability of art to continually reinvent even the world’s most recognizable faces.
Luseland Centennial Mural
Paint on panel
Privately Acquired
The Town of Luseland commissioned local artist
Jared Fischer to paint this mural in honour of
Canada’s 150th birthday. The mural depicts the
growth of the community from initial settlement on
the native prairie to the thriving town it is today.
This project was funded in part by the Government of
Canada through the Canada 150 Funding Program.
Dedicated September 2017
