Lorne Szmek used to be a machinist.That’s evident from the skill with which he uses power tools such as band saws and routers to make impressive wood, metal and shell sculptures that are strongly influenced by First Nations art.Szmek, whose work is on display through December at the Semiahmoo Library (1815 152 St.) also suffers from post-polio syndrome.It’s a condition that affects polio survivors years after they were first afflicted, leading to progressive muscle weakness and atrophy.“Around 75 per cent of those affected by the original polio outbreaks got post-polio syndrome 30 years later,” he said.“With me, I’m losing use of my legs and facial muscles.”The condition has made it increasingly difficult for Szmek to do work that calls for him to be on his feet for any length of time.But, as the current display shows, his creativity has found another outlet – paintings that are created 100 per cent digitally using Microsoft Paint software.Colourful abstract and semi abstract designs, and detailed representational works, such as paintings of sunflowers and the moon reflected in the waters off Mud Bay have been painstakingly built up, pixel by pixel, by Szmek.“I was retrained in computer science,” he explained.“I started fooling around with the Paint application, and I grew to really like it a lot.”It’s a difficult and time-consuming process, not unlike creating an etching or engraving, Szmek said.“I start with a blank, white screen and go from there. I usually have a composition in mind, whether it’s a shape or a subject.”Once each work has been finalized, Szmek takes the files to an art printing house that has a large Roland bubble jet printer, for transfer onto paper or canvas, which is then mounted on a stretcher-frame.One semi-abstract digital painting that Szmek is particularly proud of he calls Spirit Dance in the Forest.“It’s like a firelight shining through trees, with spirits dancing all around it,” he said.One of Szmek’s sculptures that has proven popular in the current exhibit – located just behind the information desk at the library is called Rhonda’s Orca. A stylized First Nations-style depiction of a whale, it employs machine-carved cedar planking inlaid with mild plate steel and aluminum, treated and routed to bring out colour and texture, plus cockleshells gathered from White Rock beach.“The aluminum catches lights from a million different angles,” Szmek said. “It will pick up different flecks of red.”The Rhonda of the title is Szmek’s wife. Of First Nations heritage herself, she provides a lot of inspiration for Szmek and his art, which he markets under the name Moonsnake Artworks.“I’m inspired by West Coast Native art, but I put an individual twist on it by using metals,” he said. “My mother-in-law is Frances Jackson, a famous artist of the Gitnmaxx people from around Hazelton, although she lives mostly in Prince Rupert.”One of the other materials Szmek likes using in his sculptural works is abalone shell, which is imported from Hawaii.“You can’t use B.C. abalone any more – there is isn’t enough of it,” he said.Born and raised in Prince George, Szmek didn’t have a formal art background – aside from taking Art 11 in high school – but has always felt he was an artist from the time he was drawing and painting little dioramas to enhance his childhood games.He moved to the Lower Mainland in 1973 and has lived mostly in the South Surrey-Langley area.Szmek said his art is continuing to evolve as he faces increasing physical challenges – and inevitably digital works are assuming a greater importance in his output, as his skills develop.“There is fatigue involved, but not as much of a physical fatigue as sculpting,” he said. “I’ve gone from painting abstracts to landscapes and florals – I’m currently working on a composition with carnations.”Szmek said there has been some prejudice against digitally created works in the art world, but this is being gradually broken down as digital artists organize and share ideas online.“People don’t see it as an art form yet – to this point most of it has been things like digitally-manipulated photographs – but it’s becoming more and more accepted.”