One thing I admire about many artists and writers is how they can see the extraordinary in everyday moments, and then elevate it through their work. I think the cover for our December issue (see above), painted by Rebecca Shuttleworth, is a perfect example.
Shuttleworth has built a part-time career as an artist, but she still works in corporate agriculture. She grew up on a purebred Charolais operation at Balzac, Alta., and currently farms with her boyfriend near Airdrie.
“Getting to experience an industry first-hand is really important, because then it translates into my art, and then I think I can kind of share the beauty of the industry with my audience,” she told me in a phone interview.
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You don’t have to know much about cattle to appreciate the glossy winter coats on “the boys,” real bulls owned by Hamilton Farms Inc., based out of Cochrane, Alta. Shuttleworth created this oil painting from a photo taken by Kim Matthews. The photo’s composition drew her — the nice foreground, the trees in the background, the wintery nature (fitting for our December issue), and the natural way the bulls walk toward the viewer. I’m not sure if Matthews somehow got the lead bull to look at her as she snapped the photo, or if that was luck. Whatever happened, it’s the right detail.
Just like any other career, artists must invest time and effort in learning their craft. Shuttleworth began taking art lessons at age 12 from Jane Romanishko, who worked a lot in paint and chalk pastels. Romanishko influenced Shuttleworth’s style, and Shuttleworth did a lot of chalk-style pencil pieces for a long time. More recently, she’s been painting, and inspired by local artists Paul Van Ginkel and Doug Levitt.
While in high school, Shuttleworth won a Grade 12 Western Art Scholarship from the Calgary Stampede. She studied agronomy at the University of Saskatchewan, and convocated in 2019. That was a big year for her, as she also created the 2019 Calgary Stampede poster, from a photo shot by Samantha Callioux. Her poster was then set in stone, so to speak, on the sidewalk outside Calgary’s BMO Centre. She’s been featured in Southwest Art magazine, and had a couple of big commissions, including illustrating Heartland star Amber Marshall’s children’s book, Where’d Cow Go?
So, it’s not hard to draw a straight line between Shuttleworth’s experience growing up on a farm, and her current careers in agriculture and art. While she plans to build her art career into a full-time pursuit, she wants to remain involved in agriculture, as that’s where she draws her inspiration.
Part of the attraction is the heritage of her family, and others in the industry. As she’s grown older, she’s appreciated calving season moments even more, such as when the mother cow sees her calf for the first time, as well as the role of people as caretakers of these animals.
Shuttleworth’s parents’ herd calves in the winter, as does her current outfit, so she’s probably seen plenty of these moments. I asked her if any stood out for her, and she recalled a childhood memory of a calf flat-out with scours. Shuttleworth said they’d already administered a lot of fluids via IV and were close to “calling it.”
“But then we did just one more bag and saved this calf. (It went from) being completely flat out, not even being able to suck a bottle, to running around.”
Again, although we weren’t there with the Shuttleworth family when that calf came back from near death, I think most of us can relate to the experience. Readers will have nursed sick or cold calves in the barn, or perhaps in the porch. They don’t all make it, so it’s a very satisfying feeling when we pull them back to life. It’s a common experience, but taking good care of animals adds meaning to our lives. So, too, does taking care of people, creating art, being in nature, or any other activity that goes beyond satisfying our short-term needs or wants, that reminds us that we’re part of, and contribute to, a bigger picture. I’m probably preaching to the converted, but I find I must constantly remind myself of this, with all the noise and busyness of life.
Shuttleworth has posted a quote from the poet Mary Oliver on her social media platforms, which captures this feeling much more eloquently than I have. It’s from Poem 133: The Summer Day.
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
Readers interested in seeing more of Rebecca Shuttleworth’s art can find her on Instagram (@RebeccaShuttleworthArt) or Facebook (facebook.com/rebeccashuttleworthart).
From all of us at Canadian Cattlemen, merry Christmas and happy new year. May your cattle be fat and shiny this winter, and your calves healthy and lively.
