Shay Keller’s art teacher encouraged him to take a week off school and go to Canadian Western Agribition in Regina.
It was the right decision.
By mid-week, the 16-year-old Grade 11 student from Rockglen, Sask., had sold enough of his artwork to pay for his booth in the trade show.
Some visitors were joking that they would buy now – before Keller becomes famous and his prices rise.
As a child growing up on a ranch where the family raises Black Angus and Limousin cross cattle, Keller was always sketching, said his mother Erin, who was helping her son at the booth.
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This summer his pencil drawing of a barrel racer was selected the winner in the National High School Rodeo Association art contest. The drawing was featured on the program cover for the rodeo’s championship final in Gillette, Wyoming. Keller also won a $500 scholarship.
He is the first Canadian to win the contest, and he won it the first time he entered.
“My friends chose the picture,” he said of the winning entry.
He prefers to draw what he knows – ranching and rodeo.
“I pick the stuff I’d like hanging in my house,” said Keller, who participates in team roping and tie-down roping in high school rodeos.
He prefers to work in pencil because of the detail it allows. He said his new art teacher is helping him learn more about the finer details of drawing.
Well-known pencil artist Bernie Brown walked over from his Agribition display to give Keller some tips.
“He told me about marketing,” Keller said.
The exposure at one of the largest indoor trade shows can’t hurt, although the teenager had a hard time deciding what to charge for his wares.
Many people stopped to ask if he would draw pictures for them on commission.
Those who already have Keller originals include the event winners at this year’s Saskatchewan high school rodeo provincial finals. Keller and his partner finished fifth in the Canadian finals team roping event.
Keller would like to become an artist once he’s done school. He intends to participate in more trade shows to promote his work.
His work is also on display in the Assiniboia, Sask., Art Gallery.
