Based on a couple of photos in Gatineau Park, near Lac Carman this October, this is a study in colours (warm vs cool, complementaries, and values).

The inspiration is Tom Thomson’s sketch on panel: “Red Leaves” (1914) and his painting: “The Pool” (1915-16). Both are part of the National Gallery’s collection and are worth a close up look. Get really close to see the complexity of the images, Tom’s extrordinary skill, strength and mastering in capturing the feel of the Canadian bush. The commercial images on calendars, postcards and mugs just don’t do justice to his work.

… I didn’t come remotely close of course but it was fun and sobering. I’ll definitely go back again to look some more and maybe a little more will sink in.

This piece has found a new home. If you would like a look, please check it out on the Private Collections page.

I invite you to have a look at my latest in Featured Pieces. I admit, I have a thing for tress and this one was special. I visited and photographed this tree in the fall with the plan to paint it. It was fun to paint and kept thinking how in our busy lives (yes even retired people have busy lives), we mindlessly skip by things we should take more note of. Our beautiful and increasingly scare long lived trees and what they do for us is one that particularly affects me.

This beautiful Bebb’s Oak is about 120 years young. In our great great grandparents time it was transplanted to become part of the Dominion Arboretum which was established in 1898. This rare natural hybrid of white and bur oak is a member of a family of ancient trees. In 2017 a violent storm downed two of its large branches and tore away a third of its trunk. Despite this, it is a survivor and expected to recover and continue growing. Unless we destroy it willfully or thru neglect, it could live for another 1000 years into the early 2300’s.

Both for its impressive physical proportions and the timescale of its life, it commands our awe and respect and for its contribution to the air we breath, our gratitude.