Starkevich’s Forever Grasslands showcases local nature’s beauty at the Esplanade 

Courier/Commentator Photo Submitted by Colin Starkevich. SHOWCASE: Colin beside two field study paintings he created on a painting trip along the South Saskatchewan River last fall. (Right) A 30 by 40” oil over acrylic painting titled “Masters of the Lek” depicting Sharp-tailed Grouse fighting on their traditional dancing ground (Lek) during early spring.

By Nerissa McNaughton
Southern Alberta Newspapers

Colin Starkevich is a local artist whose works are being featured at the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre in Medicine Hat from June 14 to October 18, 2025. Known for his paintings depicting Southern Alberta’s grasslands, he has been wielding a paintbrush – and a deep love for the grasslands – from a very young age.

“I have been drawing for as long as I can remember,” Starkevich muses. “I started painting at 16 and was 19 when I realized the focal point of my artwork would be depicting Alberta’s grassland region.”

His realization was correct. Now, 16 years later, Starkevich’s grassland artworks have been prominently and proudly featured at the Wallace Stegner House, the Royal Alberta Museum, and through the Artists for Conservation Foundation – to name just a few. His BSc majoring in Environmental Sciences and a diploma in Wildlife & Fisheries Conservation further informs his work, and his advocacy.

He explains what keeps him so captivated on this subject, saying, “There are beautiful places all over the planet in nature, but many are not aware of just how beautiful and diverse Southern Alberta’s grassland are. Additionally, global conservation talks tend to overlook the grasslands.”

The notion that the grasslands are not in need of awareness is simply not true. Starkevich points out that the region is often targeted for urbanization and industrial development.

“Those are important things we need to survive as humans,” he admits of corporate development, “but there is still plenty of beauty and importance that needs to be honoured. It is up to us all to ensure we have the grasslands now, and well into the future.”

His reverence for the land and those who respect it runs deep.

“I am an artist. I’m a guy who paints the pictures, but my work highlights and celebrates the passions and work of so many people in the past and present working to conserve and protect the grasslands. If it were not for the work of all these people, we wouldn’t have the grasslands we have today, and I wouldn’t be the artist I am today. I want to use my artwork to celebrate the work of others and celebrate the region.”

A formative experience in his artistic journey was when he met renowned nature artist Robert Bateman.

“When I was 17, I was involved with a youth program that was all about connecting with nature and celebrating it through the arts,” Starkevich explains. “Robert Bateman was a major part of that program, which is how I was able to meet him and stay connected over the course of several years. One time I was fortunate enough to be able to show him some of my paintings in progress. He was impressed and invited me to a Master Artist Seminar!”

During that weeklong seminar, Starkevich and a small handful of artists received intensive training and inspiration from the world-renowned Bateman.

“That was in 2010 and to this day, almost every day, I can still hear his voice offering painting tips about composition, lighting, and more. That experience has been of tremendous influence in my work.”

You can experience Starkevich’s work at the  Esplanade Arts & Heritage Museum in Medicine Hat, where his solo exhibition, Forever Grasslands, runs until October 18.

This is a show two years in the making.

“The museum curator and I started discussing potential exhibits two years ago,” Starkevich smiles about how Forever Grasslands came to fruition. “What is unique about this show is that it highlights the major works in my Grasslands series.”

Many of Starkevich’s previous shows included field studies and paintings that were conceptual over realistic.

“The Esplanade show features some of my earlier work and newer pieces that are focused on realism, along with my most highly polished and larger-sized paintings,” he adds. “It’s neat for me to see my strongest paintings all in one place! Some are small, but some are quite large; the largest being 8 feet long by 5 feet high. Many of the paintings depict the wildlife you see here in Southern Alberta, which guests of the show will find very relatable.”

On September 13, Starkevich will be at the Esplanade attending one of the Centre’s events. This is a great opportunity to meet the artist. Stay tuned to the Esplanade’s and to Starkevich’s social media and websites to learn more about Forever Grasslands and events where you can connect with the artist.

Starkevich is a local artist, drawing from local inspiration, focused on the rich natural heritage of the region and those who have preserved it in the past, present, and for the future. Enjoy his work at the Esplanade, and learn more about him at http://www.colinstarkevich.com.