Brina Schenk

I’m considered a weirdo in this popular resort town. I know there are a few of us around—I’ve met some of you. We don’t mountain bike, ski, go fishing, or golf. I fully understand that people from all over the world come to Fernie to do those four things, and I’m probably missing out, but I came...

Trying to get inspired for yet another dinner (they just keep coming), I was flipping through a borrowed recipe book and then realized I couldn’t find a single recipe that my whole family would get excited about outside of the dessert chapter. Each individual in my family has their own list of likes...

Over the years a friend and I would choose from fall courses offered at our local community college. One such course, Pine Needle Basketry immediately had me deep diving into the medium. The introduction spurred me on, plunging into online content and any books available. Six years later it’s been a...

Painting or drawing in the great outdoors is often called plein air, but I don’t often call it that myself. A fancy label doesn’t feel like me, and since I know and respect some local plein air painters, I can’t seem to put myself in the same category. For me, I just love painting outside with a few...

I’ve been thinking about muscle memory a lot lately. I’m not going to go deep into what muscle memory is, but to quickly sum it up it’s when physical actions become automatic through repetition. We can easily climb stairs while holding a full basket of clothes without tripping and falling because we...

As an art instructor, artist, and Mom, I am aware of the waste in art. The amount of paper, canvases, clay, craft supplies, paint, brushes, crayons, and markers that end up in the bins is heartbreaking but unavoidable. Art is a necessity, and stopping is not an option. What I can share are the...

There are people we meet in our lifetime who make a huge impact on us and the path we take, and one of them, for me, was my grade 12 English teacher, Mrs. Heimstra. It’s a pretty funny story, looking back, because all she did—and I still don’t know why—was ask me if I wanted to join the small (super...

Well, this is exciting. I was asked - and even encouraged - to use Fernie Fix as a platform for my own personal agenda: to make everyone start a daily creative practice! Mwaahhahaha! You’re all going to be drawing birds in adorable sweaters in no time. If you don’t know me, I’m Brina Schenk, an...