Sabine Hahnel, a Canadian painter of German descent, stands as a distinguished artist celebrated for her evocative exploration of prairie and mountain landscapes, enchanting forest scenes, and vibrant impressionistic floral compositions.
From early childhood, art has been Sabine's fervent passion, with vivid memories of countless hours spent observing her grandfather's artistic process.
She is entirely self-taught and pursues informal training through workshops, community and experimentation.
Incorporating both traditional and contemporary impressionistic techniques, Sabine's artistic work is a manifestation of her profound connection with nature and love for bold, expressive colors.
While she is widely recognized for her impressionistic landscapes, Sabine proudly showcases three distinctive bodies of work: expansive landscapes and floral stills rendered in acrylics and oils on large canvases, and smaller, whimsically designed watercolors.
The unifying element across her diverse portfolio is the dynamic interplay of color and light.
Sabine's artistic journey embodies a celebration of the freedom to re imagine reality, a sentiment rooted in her formative years in East Germany, where access to art supplies was restricted, and freedom of expression was not fostered and often punished.
Having moved to Canada with her husband and son in 1998, Sabine's art reflects a profound liberation from constraints, echoing her personal and creative evolution.
Despite or maybe because of a career spanning over four decades as a Registered Nurse in the Intensive Care unit and her role as a bison rancher near Two Hills, Alberta, Sabine's artistic spirit thrives. She recently retired from nursing in 2024 but continuous to work with her bison on her homestead near Two Hills/Alberta.
She has held solo shows in different venues and has been represented by different galleries.
Sabine’s work has been acquired into the permanent collection of arts by the County of Strathcona County .
Her creations adorn collections in Canada, the USA, Switzerland, and Germany, a testament to the universal allure of her evocative and dynamic artistry.
For Sabine, the blank canvas remains an eternal source of excitement, holding boundless possibilities within its expansive, white embrace.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
As an impressionistic artist immersed in the allure of the Canadian landscape, my work serves as a visual journey, inviting viewers to embrace the call of the great outdoors and seek tranquility in the natural world. Nostalgia inspires with my Alberta prairie scenes, creating a poetic resonance that beckons the viewer to explore the untamed beauty of Canada.
Working primarily with acrylics, my canvases become a playground for texture, with the addition of paper, tissue, and oil pen lending a tactile dimension to the scenes. In a dance of light and shadow, I strive to capture fleeting moments that bring the natural landscape to life, acknowledging traditional styles in my works with a more contemporary touch.
Nature is not only my subject but my mentor—each stroke an exploration, each canvas an immersion, and every observation a lesson. As a self-taught artist, my journey is fueled by an unwavering passion for continuous improvement, nurtured through workshops, community engagement, and fearless experimentation.
I aim to create a collaborative experience, allowing each observer to contribute their unique perspective and see a myriad of shapes, unveiling a personal connection with the artwork.
In essence, my art is an invitation—a journey through the Canadian wilderness, a dance of textures and colors, and a collaboration with the viewer to complete the narrative in their own mind.
