Living, and vast, vast Skies

Unframed canvas of a typical prairie sky motif, 1974

As spring turned to summer, back in 1969, the impressions of the prairies, for this new European immigrant family in their tiny little house, became quite a fascination. Long before the term 'land of living skies' was coined, the sky in Fritz's painting became a distinctive attraction of his many landscapes. The living colors and the interplay of cloud and sun, along with the endless view in many settings, made it quite impossible for him to go anywhere without his canvas and paints. Something he never really did anyway, but in Europe it wasn't so easy to just 'stop and set-up to paint' anywhere.

City of Bridges in 1969

Saskatoon, looking North over the South Saskatchewan River







Settling into daily life

Fritz busy in his make-shift studio, 1969

Emerging unharmed from what seemd like a very harsh first winter, 43 years ago, the walks around the city were much easier. The younger two children settled into the nearby schools, Albert Elementary School and Nutana Collegiate, while the older two had found jobs. Fritz continued to sketch and paint - there were many commissions for portraits - and busy mother and wife Waltraude took a job in graphic arts at the U of S, the nearby University of Saskatchewan.

Minor renovations, in the house with blue carpet, lime green walls and salmon colored kitchen cupboards were also ongoing. Mostly painting and shelf building. Some of the old make-do furniture is still in the house today, as there never seemed to be a priority to replace the repainted kitchen chairs and old tables.

Front entrance, Nutana Collegiate



Albert Elementary School



Shopping and laundry was also still something to get used to. Thankfully, there were neighbors and friends who offered help, especially with the driving, until there was enough money to purchase things like a small washing machine and eventually, a small car ('small' being uncommon in the late 1960s!). Oddly, bicycles were only for children back then, so it was a few years before adult bikes were seen on the streets.

Springtime on the Prairies

1990



1986

Some favorite watercolors that really capture the sense that spring has sprung and another long prairie winter is finally over. The land is re-emerging and even the warmer air seems visible.

1979

 

1986




 

Happier Winters



Prairie Snowscape - temptation to snow shoe or ski cross country!

Photo by Anette Stehwien 1969

Much happier memories are evident in the first winters captured in and around Saskatoon. Especially for often snow-starved Europeans, where snowfall brings much excitement, especially to children and all winter sports enthusiasts. This beauty in the landscape also called out to Fritz and many a family adventure began with the start of a new life in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.


Saskatoon in winter, with spring not far away?
Unframed canvas re-discovered in Fritz's old basement.
The Saskatoon skyline was a favorite motif, in all seasons.



More Winter from the Archives



Untitled, photo of the original, Winter in Russia



Dated 1942, Sokolow

 

When rummaging through the archives, one finds many treasures waiting to be re-discovered. Here are more examples of 70 year old works from a time where his art was likely the only way Fritz could escape into a world of peace and beauty. He helped others do the same, and impressed at least one Army General enough to get special assignments. Assignments that often kept him out of direct combat. Thankfully.



Scan of a slide of an amazing watercolor



Untitled sketch of people in Winter, early 1940s



Previous Winters

Winter in Russian Town, 1942

For Fritz, this incredible prairie winter beauty must have brought back memories of similar landscapes he spent time in, during much more difficult years than that first winter in Saskatchewan. Certainly his paintings are evidence of the attraction of the vast landscapes, 70 years ago. He managed to see and capture the beauty, even through the horrors of WWII, where Fritz was forced to serve as a soldier in both Russia and France.

Winter in Russia, near Belarus, 1943





Almost more amazing than the fact that he somehow was able to capture the beauty alongside the destruction and devastation, is the fact that there are originals in the collection from those years. Not only did his art help Fritz survive, but a number of sketches and paintings somehow survived as well.

Loving Winter



Showing off the Deep Snow on the Eastside Riverbank, Winter 1968



With a new skyline to sketch, and inspiration for new paintings at every turn, the family set out for many, many walks in the new home city. Dressed for the weather, and without a car, many streets and parks were explored. The job hunt and shopping were also reasons to head out almost daily.





Saskatoon Downtown Skyline, Winter of 1968

All the differences of living in this new 'Heimat' were eagerly written down, on the very thin airmail paper, for friends back home, and so the mailbox became an object of daily visits and much anticipation.



Would the early adjustments have been easier with today's e-connections? News to and from the former home would always be about two weeks old. Photos were far too heavy and expensive to send easily, and phone calls were a challenge also because of the time difference.

 

Out in the Snow



Fritz and daughters heading out to enjoy the snow and scenery.
Black and white photography by Anette, December 1968



Quick pre-sketch of the painting under Fritz's arm in the photo above, found in the studio,
Saskatoon River Bank - likely the first motif painted after moving to the city.

A new Home

Towards the end of the first 2 months of prairie living, luck (and perserverence) had it, that the trips to nearby Saskatoon resulted in a house purchase. A rather small and less-than-dream-home type of house, but adequate accomodations for the new immigrants, and certainly adquate for the interim. Along with early December also came the much anticipated snow fall and cold prairie winter. A type of winter that Europeans aren't accustomed to at all.

A great little anecdote from that moment of this first and very basic accomplishment, is when the previous home owner drove away and left the family to fend for themselves for the first time since arriving. While Fritz was busy looking at the new 'four walls' and probably quite eager to paint over the 'horrible' colors, his wife rushed out with one last thought, and yelled across the street "Does the furniture work?" A very important question, with winter looming. But also, hopefully easily interpreted to the intended question regarding a functioning furnace.

The acquisition of any sort of 'workable' furniture is another story in itself. We had none at the time and were also eagerly anticipating the arrival of a small crate of belongings (and paintings!) that was shipped just before leaving Germany.

Getting back to Business





As the settling in continued, Fritz not only scouted out new motifs - an easy enough task, with the wide open prairie all around - but also got back to taking commissions for much needed income. Landscapes were certainly his passion, but he was also an excellent portrait artist. Fritz was incredibly skilled at capturing a person's character, and he also didn't mind when people watched him as he painted. Or created. Anyone who has watched him can attest to this fascinating way of creating his works. Paintings were never done from one corner to the next, but came into focus as a whole, for lack of better wording. And he used his whole self and often various tools and media to bring the subject into focus, and finally, into a finished painting. Although, as per quote from his booklet: a painting is never really finished, it only stops at good places.











Finding Motifs



Scan of Photo of Watercolor painting -
still retaining the mood?

Looking back, it's intriguing to think where and how the many works over the years were stored and transported. It's fantastic to discover the many early works, especially before there was the permanent home and studio in this 'new' country.


Watercolor of the neighboring Town of Battleford, Main Street



Gaining Perspective

With the many drives to Saskatoon for house hunting, and the daily walks to explore the town and area, the family was learning to love the many differences in not only lifestyle, but most certainly, in the large landscape. The open prairie was at times difficult to comprehend, coming from what seems like a very crowded Europe by comparison. The highway stretched for miles of 'nothing', the skies were huge and seemingly alive, with new interplays of clouds and sunlight every day, and civilization nearly absent, when reflecting back. Vast is a good descriptor of this new home.





First impressions sketched by Waltraude Stehwien



Also very memorable, was the perspective gained while driving through these vast prairie landscapes. A broad new perspective, as it applies symbolically, to starting a new life in a different world was part of nearly every day. And lessons in perspective, as they apply to the laws of drawing, were incredibly apparent with every roadtrip taken - lessons that Fritz taught often, how all lines eventually meet at the vanishing point.





Working towards a future



Watercolor of the Battlefords river valley


In a very small basement suite, Fritz Stehwien and family became temporary residents of the the city of North Battleford.

It was time to learn and to learn to adjust. Not only was there a rather large language barrier, but the food, the customs, the weather and the 'lost' feelings were a bit overwhelming at times. Often in a humorous and very positive light though.

The memories of the 'no variety' grocery stores remained vivid for many years - white bread, yellow cheese and rather large chunks of red meat. The potatoes tasted 'off' and the butter was salty! Incredibly affordable pink ice cream by the gallon was also a new concept, when everything seemed to come in much much smaller and naturally flavoured portions back home. Gallons and pounds and miles per hour. Truly lots to learn. And to paint, of course.






Skyline of North Battleford, SK. in oil





 

Painting the Prairies

Fritz Stehwien painting the prairies

Once settled in at Fritz's sister's small house, the family of 6 started to explore the new home province, both to admire the beauty and to find a more permanent place to call home. Trips to relatively nearby Saskatoon were common and for Fritz, of course, trips to the Battlefords river valley to share his love for the vast landscapes. It was indeed breathtaking! Gently rolling hills with a wide, shallow river flowing through, sand banks emerging here and there. And even though much of the color of the trees and bushes had faded for the season, it was quite understandable that the scenery was still irresistable to a landscape artist. And so the collection of paintings began to increase, even though the 'starving artist' definition was likely more true than ever. A studio and unlimited materials were still a dream away, but Fritz could be found painting and sketching at every turn, regardless. It was a passion and there were so many many motifs!

End of a long trip

43 years ago today, the long trip for Fritz Stehwien and family ended, when the CN train arrived in Saskatoon. Friends whisked 6 weary travellers off in smooth riding, quiet luxury cars, to the final stop in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. It was a rainy, dull day, with all colours gone from the landscape and all anticipation drained from the dream of paradise. The end of the trip, but really just the start of a new journey.

The colours of Canada

Watching the scenery fly by as we travelled over 2000 km across half of Canada was fascinating! The fall colors and seemingly gigantic skies were most amazing - no wonder Fritz fell in love with the country. Most notable to a European family, was the space between towns and cities. If the trip across the ocean was meant to convey the distance to our new home, the vastness of the eastern half of Canada made it very evident.

Not able to afford sleeping compartments, we took regular seats and found it to be quite a challenge to stay positive during all of this long journey. 2 nights and 3 days in the same small seat! The food was also an adjustment, and perhaps having set back our clocks by 90 minutes daily, in order to catch up with local time was beginning to take its toll as well. Fortunately, October 10th was so very close to the completion of this one-way trip.