Some of my favourite painting spots are estuaries since they are so changeable and, as the tide changes, offer a variety of scenes in a very short time. Then, of course, the other thing that makes them different are the seasonal changes. During the autumn I always keep looking over my shoulder while I’m painting to see if a bear is critiquing my work; for they are everywhere, fishing for the fall runs of salmon. Usually fat and lazy, bellies full of fish, they are rarely a threat to humans. Springtime, however, is another matter, Lean, hungry and short-tempered, often accompanied by a cub or two, I give them a respectful distance.
The estuary shown in this painting, a huge tidal marsh, is found at the culmination of Holberg Inlet. If you can witness it early in the morning, at low tide, with the sun just peeking over the distant hills, you can bet that you’ve just started one of the better days of your life! This view, across the bay from the town of Holberg, looks to the east and the morning sun.
To find this spot you must drive through Holberg and take the first major logging road to the left; one that, if you were to keep going, continues on down along the south side of Holberg Inlet and is another way to go to Winter Harbour and onwards. This is an active logging road complete with an A-frame for unloading logs that come from up the road. Keeping a watch out for these monsters is a very healthy undertaking. I usually don’t argue with them about the right of way!
It had rained all night prior to doing the sketch for this painting and, lucky me, the day dawned bright and clear, except for the mists from the night’s deluge hanging over the hills. On mornings like this, I believe we have the cleanest, freshest air in the world! A few hours later, once the light changed and the tide had come in too close to my feet for comfort, I picked up my gear and headed for town to the Scarlet Ibis for a steaming cup of hot coffee and some local gossip. Even the gossip here is different from any other place in the world. Holberg is pretty special!
