Altona's Gallery in the Park has welcomed five new artists for its 2017 summer exhibition.

Genevie Henderson and Angela Lillico of Winnipeg are the featured artists on the main floor. Their exhibit is called Art, Soul and Spirit, and touches on the theme of spirituality.

Both painters use acrylic as their primary medium. Lillico describes why and how she uses that specific form of paint.

"The things I want to portray are the things that have been created by the Creator, and at one point in time they have all been fluid ... I feel the fluidity of the medium helps to portray that fluidity in nature," said Lillico. She explained she often takes photos of the objects she plans to paint and uses them as references when mixing colours.

Henderson said she prefers acrylic as opposed to oil because it is easier to use and gives her a desired outcome. She added she draws a lot of inspirtation from Austrian artist Gustav Klimt, who frequently used metalics.

Each painter highlighted one of their pieces on display. Lillico said she is fond of her three-piece set called Spring Fling. She explained how it took 33 layers of paint for her to finally reach an outcome she was content with. She noted how she attempted to mesh the cool colours of spring with the warm tones of flowers.

Meanwhile, Henderson said she is proud of her five-foot-wide water lily painting because it is her largest piece of art so far. She recounted seeing a sign from the Women's March on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. last January that read, 'No mud, no lotus,' which was the inspiration for this piece. Henderson said she painted the roots as tangled leading up to the head of the flower, to demonstrate how beauty comes from adversity.

Both artists said they are grateful to be featured at the Gallery in the Park because it is extremely unique compared to other galleries they have visited, adding the space is a "jewel on the Prairies."

Local artists Cody Klassen and Vern Zacharias, as well as Naomi Gerrard of Winnipeg, are featured on the second floor.