It’s All in the Sky

Sheep Island Killarney Bay, Georgian – Oil Canvas

The skies we are seeing across Ontario these days are like no other. The drama and colour with the unpredictable array of cloud formations, leaves us questioning what kind of inclement weather is heading our way. For me, it reminds me of our vulnerability and perhaps, that our changing climate is imminent,  as we can no longer predict our seasons and our weather. There is so much beauty when we take the time. One of our leaders at Camp Wanapitei took this photo from her cottage. I am so fortunate to continue to see the beauty through the eyes of all these younger adults in my life. The challenge in this painting was bringing compatibility through the use of colour, with the sky, rock and water. The northern Ontario skies tell a story in itself. I was quite pleased seeing it all come together.

30h 48w canvas 24h 52w framed

Enchanting Shoreline

Tom Thomson Lake, Algonquin Park – Oil Canvas

Duchesnay Falls

North Bay, Ontario – Oil Canvas

36h 24w canvas 40h 28w framed

Dancing Pines of Greens

Stand by Me Series – Mixed media

60h 24w canvas 64h 28w framed

Birches of Blue

Ontario – Oil on Canvas

40h 40w canvas 44h 44w framed

Glorious Spring Light by the Bridge

Temagami Series 2020 – Oil on Canvas

30h 36w canvas 34h 40w framed

Rest Day

Obabika Lake, Temagami Series 2020 – Oil on Canvas

18h 24w canvas 22h 28w framed

Awaiting to Welcome Home

Temagami Series 2020 – Oil on Canvas

24h 20w canvas 28h 24w framed

Sunset Gilds the Timbered Hills

Temagami Series 2020 – Oil on Canvas

The title is part of a lyric from The Old Canoe hymn we sing at camp Wanapitei. This marks the first year ever that our camp will be closed due to COVID-19, and has been heartbreaking news for many in our camp community. I started a Temagami series since the announcement of camp being closed, and will paint memories all summer bringing camp to life on canvas

This is a view we all know, in Sandy Inlet looking out across the lake, a view we never tire of as it has delivers in its nightly sunsets. Enjoy

22h 28w canvas 26h 32w framed

Temagami Memories

Lady Evelyn, Temagami – Oil on Canvas

this past week. The sad sad news of no summer camp this year due to COVID-19, has left many saddened hearts. I painted this from heart, from my memory of our nurse’s canoe trip in 2013 on Lady Evelyn. One never tires of the rocky shorelines, the powerful skies feeling like you could just reach up and touch, the pristine lakes and the evening loons. The serenity is pure and I kept this colour palette true to its view. Here’s to summer 2021! A new beginning

30h 36w canvas 34h 40w framed

Late Summer

Lake Rosseau, Muskokas – Oil on Canvas

A late summer blue sky among the changing of foliage color can be striking. I wanted to capture this using these cooler blues. My daughter visits her friend at her cottage on Lake Rosseau and I’m fortunate to get these beautiful photos from her family. With only the foliage and sky, this painting is dramatic. I loved painting this, it was so liberating and loose, I used colour blocking and shapes to achieve what I wanted. So fun and playful.

30h 30w canvas 34h 34w framed

Sunlight On the Point

Lake Rosseau, Muskokas – Oil on Canvas

This picture grabbed my eye because of the light. The photographer zoomed in on this point near their cottage on Lake Rosseau and captured the beauty in a moment of light. I love the blue moving waters and the mood delivered just with the given light on the rocks. It would be a perfect place to paddle to and sit and ponder. It’s a simple moment, a moment of beauty.

20h 20w canvas 24h 24w framed

Solitude

Stand By Me Series – Oil on Canvas

48h 10w canvas 52h 14w framed

Summer Stillness

Strong And Free Series Tom Thomson Lake, Algonquin Park – Oil on Canvas

As I continue to be inspired during this challenging time for Canadians and the world, I continue to work on my Strong and Free series. I couldn’t get enough of the beautiful photo from my daughter Tori when she canoe tripped last summer in Algonquin Park. New colours bring us hope and renewal of new beginnings. The purples, pinks, magenta’s, and yellows symbolize hope and renewal of a fresh summer season upon us. This is another view from Tom Thomson Lake. Light reflections in the water lend mind to the stillness of time.

36h 48w canvas 40h 52w framed

Canadian Reds

Strong And Free Series Tom Thomson Lake, Algonquin Park – Oil on Canvas

This is part of my “Strong and Free” series. A large square canvas of the iconic landscapes of Algonquin Park, Tom Thomson Lake. My daughter paddled here last summer capturing these stunning pines. The reds are symbolic with today’s pandemic challenges to remind us we are all Canadians and we have strength together. The reds of our flag.

48h 48w canvas 52h 52w framed

Queen Victoria Rock

Strong And Free Series Lake Rosseau, Muskokas – Oil on Canvas

36h 24w canvas 40h 28w framed

Family Unity

Stand By Me Series – Oil on Canvas

Simple single pines are symbolic of our world today. The message continues… “stand by me.”

18h 48w canvas 22h 52w framed

Mixed Emotions

Blowing Red Pine, Stand by Me Series – Oil on Canvas

This painting represents the turmoil of emotions in all of us as our everyday normal lives have changed. The sense of freedom, security, and independence seems to be lifted from underneath us. A pandemic, a global pandemic, that has struck our very souls. But in all this, there’s a global unity that is reminding us we are all here sharing the same earth. The red pines are recklessly blowing In a whirlwind of emotions, the colour representing Canada and the beginning of social distancing as the trees part their ways.

Still standing strong however.

24h 24w canvas 28h 28w framed

Fallen Pine

Stand By Me Series, French River, Georgian Bay, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

One Fallen Pine… but others still standing strong along the shores of Georgian Bay.

Inspired again through the adventures of my children, my daughter Tori lives to live and works to live. Being an experienced canoeist and tripper, she organized a 10 day canoe trip for her paramedic friends in Toronto. She sent me so many photos as I still need to get up to this region for my own viewing. The fallen pines along the shores are all across southern, northern, and eastern Ontario, they stand out as they try to hold on to their strong roots. This palette is soft telling the story of the shore.

24h 36w canvas 28h 40w framed

Spring On The Trail

Ottawa, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

20h 20w canvas 24h 24w framed

Spring On The Trail 1

Ottawa, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

20h 20w canvas 24h 24w framed

Center Falls

Temagami, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

This painting was inspired from another memory from the nurses canoe trip up in Temagami. One of our stops was Center Falls, near the south channel of Lake Lady Evelyn. This was an epic day as we “backsided” slid down the falls wearing life jackets on our backside for padding, we sat under the falls, and then had a lovely charcuterie lunch on the rocks. It’s so wonderful to experience pure pristine waters in current times.

36h 36w canvas 40h 40w framed

City Storm

Montreal, Canada – Oil on Canvas

36h 24w canvas 40h 28w framed

Glorious Reflections On Lady Evelyn

Temagami, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

Glorious Reflections on Lady Evelyn // Temagami
This painting speaks of the absolute stillness on the lake Lady Evelyn Lake up in Temagami. We awoke from our campsite to this glorious reflection, the day was crisp and clean, knowing the first stroke of our paddles would break the stillness of the mirrored water. The landscape of pinks and greens was standing in the water. So pretty.

36h 36w canvas 40h 40w framed

Spring Arriving 3

Spring Arriving 3 – Oil on Canvas

22h 28w canvas 26h 32w framed

Spring Arriving 2

Ottawa, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

22h 28w canvas 26h 32w framed

Spring Arriving 1

Ottawa, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

24h 24w canvas 28h 28w framed

Spring On Lady Evelyn

Temagami, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

This last spring was a challenging time for all of us as we adjusted to a new way of living. I noticed a pattern with my palette choices were happy and bright, joyful, colour choices of hope and renewal, pinks! Ironically enough, I painted this series just before March, before the dark news of the pandemic hit. I was happy to see that these joyful paintings of pinks could help bring happiness and smiles to others during this time
This painting in particular is another view from my little hospital cabin up at Camp Wanapitei, my daily view. I still hope one day to get much of the brush cleared to see more of the lake and feel the breezes.

24h 24w canvas 28h 28w framed

Spring In Algonquin

Algonquin Park, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

24h 24w canvas 28h 28w framed

Frosty Blue 4

Ottawa, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

40h 40w canvas 44h 44w framed

Shi Niv Trail

Algonquin Highlands, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

This painting has a sweet little story. I painted it live at the Toronto One of a Kind Show this past November. I have learned that I love inspiring children who are naturally drawn to art. These two sweet little girls came by my booth with their parents as they both love art and were wide eyed watching me paint. I chatted with them a bit and then asked if they wanted to put a few strokes of color in the sky? They first said “no, we don’t want to ruin it.” It was so cute. I mentioned, “you can’t ruin it, it’s just paint, try.” I handed the brush over one at a time and they put some blue into the sky, their faces I will always remember. A moment of awe. Their parents took some photos. This was a photo of the Algonquin Highlands but it needed a name. The two girls’ names were Shai and Niv, so unique. I told them I would name the painting after them. Hence The Shai Niv Trail.

20h 24w canvas 24h 28w framed

Centennial Ridges

Algonquin Park, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

Photo credit: J. Jupp

30h 15w canvas 34h 19w framed

Crispy Reds of Autumn

Oil on Canvas

40h 20w canvas 44h 24w framed

Glorious Autumn Windswept

Oil on Canvas

12h 12w canvas 16h 16w framed

Glorious Light

Lake Superior, Thunder Bay, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

48h 48w canvas 52h 52w framed

Paddling the French River

French River, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

24h 36w canvas 28h 40w framed

Autumn in the Sky

Warsaw Caves, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

30h 15w canvas 34h 19w framed

Glorious Light

Warsaw Caves, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

48h 24w canvas 52h 32w framed

Glorious Autumn 3 Birches

Oil on Canvas

30h 30w canvas 34h 34w framed

Radiant Light On the Kesagami

Kesagami River, James Bay Region, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

18h 36w canvas 22h 40w framed

Fall’s in the Air

Gatineau Park, Quebec – Mixed Media

40h 40w canvas 44h 44w framed

Baie du Chaleur

New Carlisle, Gaspe, Quebec – Oil on Canvas

12h 60w canvas 16h 64w framed

View of Percé Rock

Percé, Gaspé, Quebec – Oil on Canvas

My sweet little ‘sister’ and I do not see each other often. We are both nurses in ER. We try to grab a few days together once a year. She invited me down to the Gaspe last summer, New Carlisle to be exact, for five day. At the same time directly across the Bay du Chaleur where we were, is Bathurst New Brunswick whereby my other two sisters were vacationing. So close but yet so far. The rock formation along the Gaspe coast is stunning. The water is vast as it leads out into the ocean. Perce Rock is a viewpoint from a sweet little Quebec town called Perce. It’s a true form of my impressionistic style, yet still wanting the subject matter to be recognizable.

20h 40w canvas 24h 44w framed

View from the Chateau Beach

Camp Wanapitei, Temagami, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

Camp Wanapitei, oh so dear to my heart. This is a canoe tripping camp that my children and I have been involved with for 20 years. I can’t even begin to explain the sentiment and feeling I have, and still get from camp, so I often say it in my paintings. This particular painting is a specific view known to everyone at camp. This is where I often go for peace and tranquility from the hectic everyday on goings of camp life. It’s my quiet time. I never tire of the view. The warm waters of summer and lovely purples I see in the trees inspired me.

20h 20w canvas 24h 24w framed

Moody Sky Over the Bridge

Camp Wanapitei, Temagami, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

22h 28w canvas 26h 32w framed

The Falls

Cantre Falls, Temagami, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

30h 15w canvas 34h 19w framed

The Bridge from Chateau Point

Camp Wanapitei, Temagami, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

20h 24w canvas 24h 28w framed

Bell Centre

Montreal, Quebec – Oil on Canvas

Photo Credit: J. Laliberte

36h 48w canvas 40h 52w framed

Vibrant Birches

Mixed Media

30h 60w canvas 36h 66w framed

Tree Planting Block

Dryden, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

24h 30w canvas 28h 44w framed

Snake Island

Lac la Raquette, Quebec – Oil on Canvas

40h 40w canvas 44h 44w framed

Light on the Marsh

Outside Kingston, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

30h 40w canvas 30h 44w framed

A Storm’s A Coming

Oil on Canvas

12h 12w canvas 16h 16w framed

Springtime Splendor

Oil on Canvas

36h 36w canvas 40h 40w framed

Fall Days in Lake Ontario

Kingston, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

16h 48w canvas 20h 52w framed

Catherine’s Cove

Oil on Canvas

22h 28w canvas 26h 32w framed

Springtime Birches

Oil on Canvas

16h 16w canvas 20h 20w framed

Sisters

Oil on Canvas

48h 16w canvas 52h 20w framed

Summers Eve

Oil on Canvas

This is a view down by the rocky shores on Lake Rosseau at my daughter’s friend’s cottage. The sunsets across lakesides of Ontario are one of the many pleasures of relaxation and simple moments of beauty enjoyed by many cottagers. This is one of the draws for people wanting to live on the waterfront. This was the very last moment of daylight, and the contrast of darkness and remaining light in the day was captured.

Photo Credit: E. French

22h 28w canvas 26h 32w framed

Windy Waters on Lake Rosseau

South End Lake Rosseau, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

Part of my Muskoka collection. I love the “abstract”feel of this painting. You can feel the wind in the waters at the south end of Lake Muskoka. The purples always bring balance in my view to my work and I always enjoy choosing the hue and where it will go on my canvas.

Photo Credit: E. French

20h 40w canvas 24h 44w framed

Cranberry Marsh on Huckleberry Trail

Lake Muskoka, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

This is a well known hike taken for cottagers living in the Muskokas, the viewpoint overseeing Lake Muskoka.
I have never been here, my daughter’s friend captured some photos for me and I was quite pleased when this painting was recognizable to people who live there. Viewers have said it has brought back many fond memories for them taking day hikes from years ago with their families. As an artist, this is what it’s all about, someone making a connection with your work.

24h 36w canvas 28h 40w framed

Nourishing Regrowth

Ottawa, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

Ottawa was hit with a tornado in 2018 and a couple of areas were hit causing severe destruction. One area was part of our dog park at Bruce Pit. This area has some of the oldest growth of pine trees and it was devastating for those seeing these 100 year old pines fall. I took a post tornado walk a week later and I stood still as I saw a part of the forest I walk everyday completely wiped out. I believe in every moment there is always a glimpse of hope to be seen. I then saw this beautiful pine tree laying on its side along the path, full lush branches and pine needles that I knew would perish as it was lifted from the ground just a week earlier. The length of it was incredible, so much bigger. So instead of feeling sad about it’s inevitable perishing, I thought how incredible this tree will be in re-nourishing the land, soil for regrowth. This painting is a different palette for me, it has a quiet feel, but I live the focus on elements of the fallen pine and the shades of green.

22h 28w canvas 26h 32w framed

Blue Skies 2

Up the Hill Series – Oil on Canvas

I painted this one right after Blues Skies 1, I just loved the mood and ease of these paintings coming together, it once again reminded me that my successes with paintings have to come from within, the story behind it. I put in some red/magentas in the trees here living the contrast with the sky.

36h 18w canvas 40h 12w framed

Blue Skies 1

Up the Hill Series – Oil on Canvas

This was part of my series Up the Hill, from my favourite spot at Bruce Pit, Ottawa. The pine trees going up this little hill with my dog always make me stop and take a photo. It doesn’t matter the season or the weather, it’s always captivating. It seems like a protected area and you feel blanketed walking under the pines of over 100 years old. I love the shadows in the remaining snow not yet melted, the blue sky is refreshing. I started the Sky with an acrylic wash, this allowed the pine trees to feel three dimensional by flattening the sky.

36h 18w canvas 40h 22w framed

Beyond the Aspens

Oil on Canvas

36h 36w canvas 40h 40w framed

Winter Walk 2

Ottawa, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

24h 48w canvas 28h 52w framed

Winter Eve

New Year’s Eve. Ottawa, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

16h 16w canvas 20h 20w framed

Snow Ice Sky

Ottawa, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

Many of my photos have come from my dog walks, this one is an Ottawa dog park called Bruce Pit. There were very few people there this chilly day and I was eager to get back to the car. Walking through snow and ice that’s melting, you end up in knee-deep weather, not fun. Yet with this discomfort, I was suddenly taken back by the stillness, the colours bouncing off the ice and snow, and the colours in the sky. It was beautiful, glistening, and learning to take in all simple moments in time. I painted a “panoramic” size to give the viewer the beauty of all three elements of winter.

20h 60w canvas 24h 64w framed

 Jumping Rocks

Temagami, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

This is a sweet memory of one of my nurse’s canoe trips in Temagami in September. One of our campsites had these rocks, well known to our Camp Wanapitei, for the kids canoeing here for an afternoon of rock jumping. The rock formations are so unique in shape and texture along the shores, the lake waters are warmed up by summers end, and a fun memory keeping us young at heart.

20h 20w canvas 24h 24w framed

Tamaracks at Shore

Temagami, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

Photo Credit: J. Wilson

15h 30w canvas 19h 34w framed

Night Sky

Lake Rosseau, Muskoka, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

I love the sky in this painting. My daughter was at her friend’s cottage on Lake Roseau and sent me some lovely photos. My daughter had mentioned that in just a few minutes later after this photo was taken, it was pure darkness. I love that I captured the last of daylight in this day, the beauty of the day ending and the colours in almost darkness that we still can see. The hint of purple hues contrasts so well with the oranges in the sun setting.

22h 28w canvas 26h 32w framed

Going To Be A Bright And Sun Shiny Day

Oil on Canvas

30h 30w canvas 34h 34w framed

The Road at Tree Planting

Dryden, Ontario – Oil on Canvas

This painting is from a photo my son took up in Dryden, Northern Ontario when tree planting. It was a simple photo, but I loved the story. This was his road every day for 3 months taking him to “The Block”, the block he would plant thousands of spruces. I love that these young people are nurturing our land, refurbishing our forests for future growth and their passion and drive to do so, in often challenging elements, is so pure. The Road is exactly that, the hint of new growth in the background and the drive to do so is this painting.

24h 36w canvas 28h 40w framed

Winter’s Upon Us

Oil on Canvas

18h 36w canvas 22h 40w framed

Winter’s Upon Us

Oil on Canvas

18h 36w canvas 22h 40w framed

Violet in the Sky

Fall Colour Collection 6 – Oil on Canvas

This painting is popping to the eye, the birches coming forth off the canvas. My use of purples in this painting brought me to discover how much I love purple. I subsequently have, and continue to put it in every painting as I find it brings balance and completes my paintings. This painting is from my 2017 fall collection and brings a lovely pop of colour to a modern neutral staged room.

16h 40w canvas 20h 44w framed

Spring In The Air

Wakefield, Quebec – Oil on Canvas

This painting has an abstract feel to it, but I love the mood it brings as the thaw of winter brings new life to spring. I took this photo on a sunny day on my birthday visiting Wakefield and Chelsea in Quebec. I painted this in 2017, admired by many but still waiting to find it’s forever home. I like that it begins to show elements of my artistic style coming out with my loose strokes and play of colour.

24h 36w canvas 28h 40w framed