In spite of a colder than usual winter, we’ve had some delightfully sunny days when, if you can stay out of the wind, you can enjoy a few hours of a low sun warming your body. It was one of those afternoons when I painted this oil. I tend to use oils when painting on site because watercolours are affected by raindrops and take forever to dry in our cool and damp winter weather, whereas using oil paints, I have actually painted in the rain with the water running off the paint on my canvas. If the scene lends itself better to the softer look of watercolours, I am inclined to use the oils as a basic sketch for a later follow-up with watercolours in my studio.
For me, oil painting on site, or as the French Impressionists called it, “en plein air”, is pure nostalgia, since it was my first love. My friend, Robert Kost and I used to emulate Canada’s Group of Seven Painters down to the last detail. Our painting excursions were carried out with great gusto and excitement. On the way out to our wilderness destination we would stop off at the bakery and get fresh buns and cheese and often a bottle of red wine to top off the lunch. The resulting paintings were nearly always little gems of spontaneity. Robert went on to become one of Canada’s foremost prairie painters with shows in most major cities. He was a mentor who was a major influence in my decision to paint full time. I miss him greatly since he passed away three years ago. He will always be my best friend.
Misty Lake, beside the Rest Stop between Port McNeill and Port Hardy, is one of those North Island beauty spots that is just too convenient to be appreciated. I paint it because of the wonderfully warm colours along its shoreline. Although this painting was done from the parking lot, in order to enjoy the delights of this little treasure, put into it with a canoe or a kayak. You will find yourself exploring all sorts of nooks and crannies including a creek that seems endless. It is so close and so easy!
