13 July, 2024 5 comments Leave a comment

Today is International Rock Day, a fitting time to share the inspiration behind four of my recent paintings.

Each of them grew from my exploration of the rocky shores of northern Ontario lakes. These places restore my soul and I look forward to spending time near beautiful northern lakes each year.

Superior Sapphire, varnished watercolour on 24 x 12 inch panel, $1400.

This painting was an imaginary night scene, composed using elements from three actual places I visited. Pictured below are my reference photos.

The first photo is the boulder-strewn shoreline of Lake Superior at Rainbow Falls Provincial Park, taken in 2017 when we camped near this beach.

The second photo captures a beautiful full moon over Lake Ontario. We were camped just steps from this beach at Quinte Isle Campark in 2020.

The third photo I selected for its overhanging branches. We were hiking the shoreline trail at Solitaire Lake near Huntsville, ON in 2022.

Click here for more information about Superior Sapphire.

Twenty years ago, my husband and I spent a sunny August weekend at a lodge on a cluster of tiny islands in Georgian Bay. While kayaking there, I was treated to my first up-close views of the iconic rock of that region of Ontario. 

The patterns in these smooth rock slabs and the windswept trees are an artist's dream to paint. They have inspired many artworks over the years, including the three shown here.

A Place to Dream, varnished watercolour on 12 x 9 inch panel, $650.

Pictured below are the two reference photos I used. The first one was for the foreground and middle ground of the composition. The second photo provided the background islands as well as the colour and texture of the water.

For more information about A Place to Dream, click here.

A Place of the Heart, varnished watercolour on 14 x 11 inch panel, $900.

I had a choice of two photos as reference for this scene. They were taken in morning light and evening light. I felt the first shot did a better job of showcasing the foreground rock slab, so this is the photo I referenced as the painting progressed.

I altered the shape of the large island to place it entirely in the composition, and added some rocky islands in the middle to lead the viewers eye to the island. I changed the shape and size of the trees to make them more dramatic.

Click here for more information about A Place of the Heart.

The Windy Shore, varnished watercolour on 20 x 16 inch panel, $1500.

This is one of my all-time favourite paintings. The sinuous lines in the rocks lead the viewers eye into the scene and up through the wind-sculpted tree. I love the contrast of warm stone with the blue waters of Georgian Bay.

I used three reference photos to create my composition. The first one was the main reference, and I emphasized light and shadow on the rocks.

I used the second photo to see more details of the headland.

The third photo provided the cloudy sky and a handsome windswept pine tree.

For more details about The Windy Shore, click here.

I hope you have enjoyed this behind-the-scenes look at how I explore beautiful wild places and transform those experiences into paintings that embody the soul-deep connection I have with this land.

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