Stormy Ridge
Peace Country Landscape Series. Oil on canvas, 2026.
ART. WORDS. A LIFE OF SEEKING.
There is a seeker
in all of us.
Welcome to Carmen’s Images. A place for art, stories and the questions that give our lives meaning.
Discover the journey ↗One domino at a time.
THE BOOK · FORTHCOMING
DOMINO:
The Seeker’s Journey
A life searching for the Truth.
Ask about the book ↗A small piece of wood.
A question. A journey.
In 2005, on an early morning beach walk in Puerto Vallarta, I prayed for guidance. I picked up a small piece of wood and turned it over. There, in block letters, was the word DOMINO.
“It is what you do with it.” Over the years, those words took on a deeper meaning.
DOMINO: The Seeker’s Journey brings together my writing, poetry, original artwork and photographs—an invitation to reflect on your own path, imagine possibilities and put pen to paper.
Book purchase links will be added when available.
“Follow the heart,
the mind will catch up.”
FOUR COLLECTIONS · ONE CREATIVE JOURNEY
A life seen through art.
From Peace Country skies to the questions within.
Pause, explore, and see what speaks to you.
Select a collection, or tap any artwork to view it larger.
Pink Sky
Peace Country Landscape Series. Oil on canvas, 2025.
Disappearing Horizon
Peace Country Landscape Series. Oil on canvas, 2026.
Whirlwind
Peace Country Landscape Series. Oil on board, 2026.
Hockey Series
The Canadian flag and a hockey puck meet on a surface marked like well-used ice.
Hockey Series
Colour and the marks of play become the focus of this work.
Ball hockey
A ball rests on the playing surface, beneath bands of yellow and red.
Life’s Ladder
Etching, 1986. Spiritual Series.
Crying Nuns
1986. This painting began as a small thumbnail sketch I made during an Alberta Art Foundation board meeting, where I served as a member for six years. When I returned home, I developed the sketch into Crying Nuns.
Divine Guidance
Part of my Spiritual Series and exhibited in DOMINO VI, this painting now hangs in the People’s Church in Grande Prairie.
Crucifixion
As I sanded a fir panel for a landscape, I began to see a human figure in the wood grain. Transparent layers of oil paint brought it forward. The painting now hangs at Saint Joseph’s Church in Grande Prairie.
Love
Shown as part of my 2016 installation at the Centre for Creative Arts. I gave this painting to my wife for our 40th wedding anniversary.
DOMINO V — an invitation to walk
My first three-dimensional painting measured nine feet tall and sixteen feet wide. A yellow path invited visitors to walk into the imagery of my Joy of the Journey poem.
Joy of the Journey — Beaverlodge mural
The centre section of my mural, created in 2024 and donated to the Town of Beaverlodge, Alberta, Canada. The complete mural measures 16 feet wide by 9 feet tall and is rich in personal symbolism. Look closely, and you will find the words “love” and “trust” painted in the white light at the end of the yellow path.
Domino the Seeker of Many Colours
The complete mural, created in 2024 and donated to the Town of Beaverlodge, Alberta. Its three sections bring together family memories, personal symbols and the Joy of the Journey.
Left Panel — Family, Love and the Seeker
Domino the Seeker stands among trees and sunflowers. The three sunflowers represent Carmen and Gail’s three daughters. The robin represents Carmen’s mother, and the cream can was purchased from the La Glace Ladies Aid, of which she was a longtime member. The puck represents Carmen’s hockey career, and the apple reflects the importance of education. The initials CH (Carmen Haakstad) and GP (Gail Patterson), carved in a tree, celebrate their love and life together. Look closely throughout the complete mural to find ten hidden dominoes.
Right Panel — Family Roots
Beneath the northern lights, a blue jay represents Carmen’s father—both his favourite bird and his favourite baseball team. Carved into the trees are the initials GH, DH, LH, JH and CH: Gail, Don, Lyman, Joe and Carmen. They recall a favourite childhood pastime on the family farm.
Installing the Mural — 2024
A view of the mural during its installation in Beaverlodge.
The Mural Takes Its Place
The mural comes together on the exterior wall, with ladders and equipment still in place.
Installation — Working Above
One of the volunteers works from a ladder during the mural installation.
Installation — Finishing Work
Care and teamwork helped bring this mural into its place in the community.
Thank You to the Volunteers
Thank you to the volunteers who helped install my mural in 2024. Your time, effort and community spirit helped bring this project to life.
A Dedication to Our Parents
Created in 2024 and donated to the Town of Beaverlodge, Alberta, Domino the Seeker of Many Colours is dedicated in honour of Carmen’s and Gail’s parents: Simon and Christine (Anderson) Haakstad, and Jim and Agnes (Lowe) Patterson.
The dedication plaque honours their lasting place in our family’s story.
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES
These are starting points from my collections. More artwork and stories will find their place here as the journey unfolds.
Ask me about an artwork ↗MEET THE ARTIST
I’m Carmen.
Still asking questions.
I’m an artist and writer in Grande Prairie, Alberta. I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where I also played NCAA hockey.
My working life has taken me through the arts, healthcare, education and community service. Painting and poetry have helped me make sense of the experiences along the way.
Faith, family, friends and service to community are at the heart of my journey. My hope is that these images and stories encourage creativity, kindness and the courage to follow your own dreams.
Carmen Haakstad
Enjoy the journey.
LET’S STAY CONNECTED
Every journey has
room for a conversation.
For artwork enquiries, book news, or simply to say hello.
Email Carmen ↗carmen@carmenhaakstad.com