Members of Saskatchewan's arts community gave Lumsden sculptor Joe Fafard a standing ovation Wednesday as he received a lifetime achievement award in Saskatoon.

Fafard, whose artwork is found both in galleries and on city streets in Canada and around the world, was honoured at the Saskatchewan Lieutenant Governor's Arts Awards.

The 64-year-old, who hails from the small French-speaking farming community of Ste. Marthe, Sask., looked back on a career and a reputation that he says was built one artwork at a time.

"You do a little bit every day, and afterwards, when you look back on perhaps 40 years, you realize, well, maybe it was quite a lot," he said.

Fafard received his arts education at the University of Manitoba and Pennsylvania State University in the 1960s, but has spent most of his career in the province.

He urged young artists who might follow in his footsteps to persevere.

"Don't give up, just keep on working, keep on trying, and eventually you might be surprised what you can build," he said.

Fafard, an officer of the Order of Canada, was also honoured in Ottawa this week as one of 50 outstanding artists chosen to mark the 50th anniversary of the Canada Council for the Arts.

In the fall, a retrospective exhibition of his work will open at the MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina and then tour across the country.