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Sonia Cornwall featured in new book

A late artist and rancher is the subject of a new book titled Sonia: The Life of Bohemian, Rancher and Artist Sonia Cornwall.

The late artist and rancher Sonia Cornwall is the subject of a new book titled Sonia: The Life of Bohemian, Rancher and Artist Sonia Cornwall.

Author Sheryl Salloum will launch the book with an illustrated talk about Sonia and her legacy at the Central Cariboo Arts Centre on Wednesday, Oct. 21 starting at 7 p.m.

Independent and driven, rancher and artist Sonia Cornwall developed her own distinct style of painting, says the biography from Caitlin Press introducing the book.

The honourable Judith Guichon, Lieutenant-Governor of B.C. describes Sonia’s paintings as “very real, warm, alive.”

Sonia captured the nuances of B.C.’s rugged interior in oils, mixed media, pastels and watercolours, doing for B.C.’s Central Interior what Emily Carr did for the coast.

After Sonia’s father died in 1939, her mother inherited the Onward Ranch and a huge debt. To make the ranch viable, a 19-year-old Sonia traded paintbrush for pitchfork, labouring alongside the male ranch hands.

But after marrying Hugh Cornwall in 1947, Sonia had time for painting once again.

Author Sheryl Salloum grew up in the Cariboo and has twice been a finalist for a BC Book Prize and is the author of three other books.