27 January, 2025 1 comments Leave a comment

In my last post, I introduced this new painting Echoes of Summer (varnished watercolour on 18 x 24 inch panel). It portrays famous Mazinaw Rock in Bon Echo Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada.

Today I am sharing with you a time lapse video showing the creation steps involved in this complex artwork.

Being a confessed 'rockaholic', it was pure joy for me to depict the contours, colours, and crevices of this magnificent cliff. Capturing the intricate forms of trees clinging to the granite was more of a struggle but I just kept adding more details until the trees looked real.

The tiny kayaker paddling in the distance adds a human presence and gives scale to the 330 foot (100 metre) tall rock face.

Before you watch the video, I have a sweet story to tell you, about how this painting found a perfect home. 

After completing Echoes of Summer, I uploaded it's image and details onto my web site www.karenrichardson.ca and sent the link to my friend Kate, whose photo I used as reference for the painting. I knew she would be thrilled to see it finished. 

It turns out, Kate had shared the link with friends of hers in Ottawa who also camp in Bon Echo Provincial Park regularly, and they bought the painting.

The collectors sent me this lovely note: "Kate is a good photographer and in all our years in Bon Echo [we] have never managed to capture the rock as she did. Now you have transformed her photo into a beautiful painting. We have canoed by the rock every year for over 20 years and will love having your outstanding painting to remind of us of those times. It will hang prominently in our family room where we will see it every day..."

I am delighted to learn this special piece will be treasured and enjoyed in its new home. To know that my paintings uplift people's lives every day is enormously satisfying, and keeps me invigorated to make new art to share with the world.

And now, without further adieu, I present the 90-second creation video. Click on the picture below and turn on your speakers.

Prints of Echoes of Summer are available in a variety of sizes on canvas, paper, and other substrates from my print-on-demand publisher. Click here to see the selection.

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