The Arctic Landscape

My time in the Arctic was interesting. At first, the Arctic landscape seemed desolate. When I first arrived in July 1984, upon arrival, I realized I was really in the sticks. What I had gotten myself into?!  The most casual shoe I owned was a low-heeled city walking shoe. A West Coast arrival, skinny vegetarian, there was much speculation about whether I would last the winter.

Subjects for art in a sparse landscape.

Smaller details appear larger than life, the simplicity of the Arctic landscape struck me. The colour of the rock, the Canadian shield, and landscapes in simple forms. The moss covered the edges of the boulders like lace brocade.

Beauty can be found in the most simple things. Studying the forms, the colours and small nuances. The trees were thin, stunted there, and took a long time to grow because it was just south of the treeline.

The landscape was sparse, many buildings had few windows. The mosquitoes were terrible, even in the city centre. Winters were long, cold, and dark. But the warmth of the people sustained me through twelve long winters.

Becoming a painter

I would usually take my sketchbook places. We even painted watercolours from a car, a friend and me, while it was forty below. Sitting on a hilltop, overlooking Great Slave Lake, specifically Back Bay with a sketchbook, at first, nothing inspired me to draw. But I drew anyway.

Close inspection of the rocks revealed multitudes of subtle colours. The light was more diffused, less direct, easy on the eyes, and soon became a comforting feeling. I wanted to paint, and thus began my painting journey.

Here are two of my earlier landscape paintings, based on an Arctic scene. These are quite large and were sold several years ago. See more recent works here.

 New Mexico Connection

I studied the works of others and talked to artists I knew to gain insight into the process. I would take these hints and weave them into my own process. In the back of an art magazine one day I saw an ad for art workshops in New Mexico.

So I submitted my work, via slides and snail mail, for the workshop. A few weeks went by, as at that time, we did not have the ease of computers for connecting.  I remember the day I received the reply and was accepted. I was on my way to Ghost Ranch, where O’Keefe had lived & worked. This began my love affair with the American Southwest.  This is me with the watercolour instructor, James L Whitlow.

There are so many stories I could share. I found out that the First Nations people are related to some of the First Nations in that area.  And that the path from the Arctic to New Mexico was known as the path of the eagle. It is interesting to me that I discovered it all organically through a series of events fuelled by synchronicity.

Inspired Journey

Returning to my northern home, I called on an artist friend to come to visit. He had been a mentor of sorts. I wanted to show him the paintings I had done in New Mexico.  After several delays, he finally showed up. And he was surprised to see the advancements in my work. All I can say is that I was fortunate to take this inspired journey.

The high desert was seemingly desolate at first glance, like the arctic landscape. In both locations, the land was power and magnetic. Yet, under the surface life thrived, only showing itself nocturnally. I took numerous trips there, and I hope one day I will return. The people I knew in New Mexico have passed on and moved on, but as they say in Taos, the mother mountain will call you when it is time.