25 May, 2025 0 comments Leave a comment

Recently I shipped this commissioned work, 'Northern Haven', varnished watercolour on 11 x 14 inch panel, to Michelle J, a collector in Atlanta, Georgia. One might wonder why someone living in the southern USA would chose this particular scene from the Muskoka region. It's an interesting story and Michelle gave me permission to share it here.

Her great grandfather, Dr. Herbert Leslie Barber, was the doctor for Parry Sound District in Ontario, roughly 1900-1927. His mother lived with him, his wife, and their five children in a house in Burk’s Falls. 

They also owned a large red brick cottage on Lake Cecebe, between Burk's Falls and Magnetawan, complete with an ice house, wooden boat, and screened in sleep porch - very traditional for the Almaguin Highlands. The family used to take the steamer from Burk's Falls to the cottage and stay for the summer. 

Michelle's mother grew up spending summers on Lake Cecebe, followed by Michelle and her sisters as well. Michelle's father bought a tiny cottage down the lake on the Magnetawan River, which was the main place for the five-some every summer.

Michelle searched online for artists painting Muskoka scenery and showing artwork in Huntsville, and found my web site. 

While perusing my artworks, she came across an image of In This Moment, (pictured here) which I had painted six years earlier. 

It reminded her of a small islet her family would pass by boat every time they visited her grandparents at their cottage on Lake Cecebe. 

She sent me this message last February: "Karen, I love your work. I grew up spending every summer in Magnetawan. My roots are in Burk's Falls. I absolutely love "In This Moment" and understand that it is now sold. Is there any chance you could/would be willing to do another?"

I was very happy to create a new version of this scene, and agreed to paint it for her by the spring.

The next day, she let me know that her Dad also took them fishing on Georgian Bay at least once a summer, so anything with granite outcroppings spoke to her as well.

She decided to acquire a second painting of mine, A Place to Dream, varnished watercolour on 12 x 9 inch panel, (pictured here), as a birthday gift for her youngest sister. It fit squarely in their memory of sitting lakeside and  at Georgian Bay. 

The young man in the painting also looked like her nephew. Between the three sisters, they have five children who are now the 6th generation on the lake, and they love it too. 

This painting was on display at Colborne Street Gallery in Fenelon Falls, ON, so I put Michelle in contact with them to arrange the sale.

As I began working on the commission in late March, I knew the wet-in-wet sky and its reflection would be relatively high risk to paint, so I started two paintings of the same scene.

I figured at least one would work out well, and if both were successful, Michelle could chose her favourite and I could send the other one to Colborne Street Gallery to replace A Place to Dream.

Both paintings turned out beautifully and Michelle chose Northern Haven (the top painting pictured here, and also shown at the top of this post).

I kept Solitude's Embrace, varnished watercolour on 11 x 14 inch panel, (the bottom painting) for the gallery in Fenelon Falls.

In early May, I shipped Northern Haven to Michelle and after it arrived, she sent me this message:

"I absolutely LOVE the painting. First of all, it’s exactly like the Ontario lakes in my mind. Second, your style is so precise for watercolor. I’ve never seen anything like it and am extremely impressed by how you make the medium work. Thank you - I’m sure our paths will cross again."

I do love a happy ending. It makes me smile to think of this little island scene residing in the deep south, bringing joyful Canadian summer memories to several generations.

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