Summer Air in Nova Scotia

Maybe it's the contrast between the dark and light, the reflective light of the moon and stars or the chance sighting of a shooting star. 

 The heat of summer allows easy reflective moments.

Perhaps even the sighting of magnificent Luna Moths so aptly named.

Summer Garden

In the heat of summer there is time to take a moment to reflect on work so far this season. Not too long ago the extra winter snow and prolonged cool air that lasted through spring slowed the early progress of plants. It is amazing to see now how things have grown in the available days. It is as if the plants are making a statement of defiance to all they have been through during the days and weeks of the last year.

Day Lilies 2, 2015
Acrylic on Canvas
609.5cm x 609.5c

Day Lilies are well named, lasting only one day. That makes a narrow working window and suggested a quicker drawing style. Taking advantage of the narrow window in this way seems to capture the plants in a way that reflects the available raw energy.

Day Lilies 1, 2015
Acrylic on Canvas
609.5cm x 609.5cm

Painting on site does require some planning to get all the materials and yourself into place at the right time so the paint bag by the door is always a good thing. Canvas or a support of some kind along with an easel and comfortable seat will make the work go smoothly.

Iris 2, 2015Acrylic on Canvas
609.5cm x 609.5cm

Full steam ahead.

Beach Combing Nova Scotia

After spending a few days camping around the Bay of Fundy we returned to the city and began settling in. We enjoyed our days in sunshine and especially the time spent at Cape Chignecto Provincial Park with the magnificent cliffs of Cap d'or across the Bay.

 It is interesting to read now that this area on earth is considered the center of a once giant continent called Pangea. In Pangea all the land on earth was pushed together into one giant continent. Archeologists tell us this configuration of land and water goes back a few millions of years and long before dinosaurs. 

Five Islands,
pencil, 25.4 cm x 25.4cm

Back in the city there were many errands to run and stops to make. At one stop a cabinet of ancient pottery was on display. It was only a few days earlier that I had photographed beach stones nearby and was suprised to see artists from around the world had used colours and colour combinations that seemed to duplicate those displayed in rocks on our beaches today.