Project: Canada at 150

       I have started a Project of 150 mini paintings depicting  the images I have seen travelling across Canada. I have been very fortunate to have travelled through each province over the years .  I have just touched  a small area of Canada but am proud to have experienced a little from each province.

      My first adventure was  travelling to PEI  with my family back in the 70's, a long drive in a Station Wagon, but held  such vivid memories that I have travelled back multiple times since and hold PEI dear to my heart.
 
    I worked as a teenager in Banff at the Banff Springs Hotel, an adventure I'll never forget. I had an opportunity to downhill ski at Sunshine and Lake Lousie in Banff, Night skiing at Mount Norquay. A most memorable evening was switch backing up a mountain on the back of a motorcycle to see the stars. What was so amazing was that they were within my grasp. I have never seen a starlit night as bright and almost tangible as that night.  I made wonderful friends that allowed me an opportunity to visit their homes in Vancouver and Vancouver island. I also worked in Edmonton as a student in Physiotherapy,so I  had an opportunity to visit  Klondike days, the Calgary Stampede and make my way to Jasper with friends and enjoy the hot springs and the Icefield Parkway.

      I lived in Ottawa as a young Physio but after a year and a half  moved to Terrace |Bay Ontario . This was a fabulous experience of small town life and all the adventures that it entailed. Camping at all the provincial parks in the area , learning to cross country ski,  taking up running,  all of which allowed me an opportunity to explore Northern Ontario and I did. This is where I developed a love of nature and wildlife and outdoor adventure. The wildlife is my favorite, always looking and hoping to capture a glimpse of a moose , deer, lynx , bear,  wolf  and of course birds, being my favorite.

      My husband and I bought a handmade canoe from a craftsman in Blind River almost 30 years ago , which we still own and we have enjoyed many paddles through the different lakes and creeks. We are always in  search of  a gem, a glimpse of a Blue heron, a kingfisher, or a Loon in the mist.  Hiking and biking afforded many opportunities for nature and wildlife viewing. There is nothing sweeter than seeing a moose and her calf in the woods and just watching, or stumbling on an owl, as i did while skiing one day: I will never forget that....my head was turning to stare at the Grey Owl and so was his to watch me.  It was magical.

       I moved out west  to Whitecourt , Alberta   and in doing so drove from Terrace bay through the Bruce Peninsula on  Georgian Bay to Montreal to visit family than off to Nova Scotia. On our return trip we drove straight  through to Whitecourt, Alberta. We camped along the way and therefore spent a little time in each province camping, hiking, canoeing and biking: a superb way to explore.

       I was in Alberta for 10 years. Summers were spent exploring BC, the  Okanogan Valley, Vancouver Island, Salt Spring Island and of course much of Alberta. During one of our early Jasper hikes we will never forget seeing a Grizzly across a small lake. In our naivety we continued our hike which was glorious and uneventful regarding the grizzly near miss.

       I moved back to  Quebec after 10 years out west: the heart is where family is so it was a call to go back east.  This was an opportunity to explore the east coast again  and we definitely have: summers spent travelling back to PEI, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. One of my favorite places is Algonquin Park and our annual camp outs at Kearney Lake. Algonquin Park has afforded us many opportunities for wildlife viewing and  many adventures.
     
        Last year, we  finally went up to Gaspe and saw Perce Rock, a dream of mine,  and this past summer Gros Morne national Park in Newfoundland. Each place I have visited has never disappointed. I am constantly overwhelmed by its  beauty and feel such a sense of pride in  living in this great  country.

       All of these adventures have offered me an opportunity to reflect on this beautiful country of ours and put these reflections to canvas.  I hope I can tell a story with each painting I complete.  I have started this project with some wildlife images and I will continue with images that reflect my personal connection with a place , a person or wildlife I have seen.

Work In Progress

I have been teaching a beginner drawing class for the past 5 weeks. The last class the focus was on stages of developing a finished drawing. This is an approach I take as do many artists, but not the only approach. I stress this to the students as each student will find their own unique way to develop a drawing.

We first used a pen to sketch out the subject , which in this case was a wolf and an eagle. The object was to sketch in  an overall shape then add in defining shapes or hidden shapes.  Doing this they look for  lights and darks  and indicate it using a pen..no erasing. It is always a little fearful to  not have an eraser on hand to correct mistakes, but surprising to most was how well  they  captured the essence of the animal, fairly accurately. This was also an exercise in restating a drawing.

Next step was to use pencil and using both reference and pen sketch to establish a pencil drawing  and work out any trouble spots...eye shape , direction, direction of feathers or fur, overall proportions...etc....

Once the student is happy with the pencil rendition of the subject , which is more of a line drawing , it is transferred to a clean  piece of paper. It is at this stage they start shading as taught in previous classes  and focus on the detailing line work.

This is a process and not for every drawing but it is a good process to work out a drawing, establish values and then focus on detailing.  I am easily overwhelmed with drawing and my process is to brake it down, as is for many artists. Practise, as in anything, makes it easier, and what I once used to do on paper , I now  do in my head..comparative measurements, values etc.

I am now working on a wolf painting. Was inspired by students drawings. With the painting it is a different approach . This style of painting is much looser than a drawing , but i am still interested in overall shape, darks and lights and accurate detailing.  I am trying to establish a certain look. I am loosely adapting some wolf images from Morgue photos which are free to use.  This is the beginning. I started with a palette knife then switched to a brush to blend. Then started on the one side to establish some form accentuating lights and darks....  Anyway....this is where i am at....I quite like it. Need to develop the eyes and build the layers of fur. Want to keep it loose though and not overdo it.