Local artist Shirley Flinn is excited to have her private portrait collection on display in the Lacombe Memorial Centre for the next month.

(Lacombe artist Shirley Flinn with her self portrait, part of a new art exhibit unveiled at the LMC yesterday)

The long-time Lacombe resident explains how she found her passion for the arts.

“I was really interested in lifelong learning, I said to my husband; he said well what would you like to learn, and I said you know I would really like to learn how to paint.  So in 1999 I started with water colour at Red Deer College, one of their evening courses, so I think people shouldn’t be afraid to try, there’s no rules”.

Her portrait collection was unveiled yesterday (May 3rd) in the corridor between the library and the café; she explains what you’ll see.

“I’ve done (these portraits) for my family, there’s one of my husband, and one of myself that I did with a mirror, by looking in a mirror, and the rest are my grandchildren”.

Flinn has been very involved in the arts community in Lacombe, she’s a member of the permanent collection committee, and she spent 6 years on the Arts Endowment Fund Committee.