Midsummer Island and Owl Island 2010

This is another oil painting quickly sketched in the passage at Broughton Marine Park. Midsummer Island and Owl Island are quite close in distance and we noticed that day in summer lots of activity in the waters around us.
The seals were feeding and silver colored large fish were jumping all around in the passage. They must have been the sockeye salmon returning in their millions to the westcoast. This has been the largest return of these salmon back to the Fraser River and its tributaries since the early 1900's.
　
　
　
　
　
　

The Sweet Calls of the Chickadees 2010

Awakening from the dreams in sleep,
and breath released,
The peonies team with the mightiest heartbeats,
calling out in those cool tones,
and breathe in the delight of that moment,
With each brilliantly little aria,
sonnets in the songs of delight,
If only the sunlight could motion the chickadees,
to stay but play,
merely for this spring day,
Another warm stage announces my sweet singers,
Holding their melodious tune,
so their voices can call in the new day of June.

Broughton Marine Park 2010

We just came back from a painting trip on Vancouver Island and drove the island highway. The week we stayed in the town of Port McNeil was enjoyable and we chartered a seaplane to the Broughton Archipelago Marine Park. There was just four people onboard and we painted after landing near Eden Island.

This is a quick oil painting of Broughton Island; the largest one in this Provincial Marine Park. We then flew around and landed in many other waterways, painted, had lunch and eventually flew back to Port McNeil; it was only a three hour painting trip but it was very memorable.

The Watery Colours of Ocean Storm 2000

We would see this wooden skeleton,
Already painted by the elements,

Her hues severely bleeding,
Into their rusty tones,

Many a nail would release and distort,
This beached gillnetter of a carcass,

Only the beautiful vertical presence,
And monumental shape,
Surrendered All,
To the sculptor; which is the sea,

And sent me dizzy into this image,
But dazzled towards the horizon,

Another storm daring all to stay,
And fall into the seas volume.

Prince Rupert 1999

This small watercolour was quickly sketched along a trail on Prince Rupert's Digby Island. There was a lot of rain on that day in September; and when it cleared briefly I painted this quite dark and rather mysterious composition.

Prince Rupert is where we stayed and the time there was very enjoyable with all that beautiful nature around us. And the waters of Hecate Strait is a major waterway for tourism and we saw lots of whales too.

Dessert at the Picnic 1994

I feel this watercolour of the cantaloupe dessert we had at Alouette Lake; even compliments the oil painting one and the many more drawings from this series. I've always loved painting this fruit because the golden flesh with all its depth and vivid hues reminds me of summer.

In Unison of the Snow Geese 1999

They would spread out,

Forming the unity of peace,

Winged animals of flight,

Soaring out in harmony,

We would never tire of this marvel,

People left to watch and express,

Charming colours for this canvas,

With impressions which left are best,

Such movement of the atmosphere,

I have never envied neither nor dare,

If I could soar with my plumage made bare,

Perhaps the geese in the colours of snow,

Could lift me higher,

So I could dream once more,

Reaching to the heights,

And one day entering Heavens doors.