Local artist paints the town for Calgary Stampede

A Calgary artist is harnessing the spirit of the Calgary Stampede by painting one shop window at a time.

Dean MacKenzie is a self-employed artist and cartoonist, and in Calgary, that means a lot of jobs painting the windows of businesses in celebration of the Calgary Stampede.

“I do it pretty much for the fun factor of it,” he told CityNews.

“It started as a hobby, and I turned it into a full-time gig, and I’ve been doing it for over 25 years — almost 30.”

When you’re out shopping and you see a western-themed painting on a shop window or a restaurant — it’s MacKenzies’ work.

And his creativity shows. He tends to add elements from each shop to his creations and often adds a Canadian flag.

“I don’t know. I guess whatever comes out of my marker,” MacKenzie said when asked about his creativity.

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Mackenzie says it’s been a steady climb back up to get to pre-pandemic levels of bookings.

He paints about two to three windows a day, and says he’s been busy since the first week of June. He adds he will probably stay that way until parade day.

“This year, I’m probably close to about 60 to 70 different places. My busiest year was probably about 135, 140,” he explained.

“I figure it will probably take a couple of years, probably about two or three years, to get back to where I was before. At my busiest point a few years ago, I was probably doing about seven to eight a day.”

And with all the Stampede spirit that MacKenzie is creating in Calgary, you’ve got to wonder if when the paint brushes are down and the Stampede starts that MacKenzie will be taking in all the festivities.

“Not at all, not at all. It’s an excuse for me to take a week and go camping,” he said with a laugh.

“I go once in a while.”