Alberta
The splashes of brilliant yellow canola fields have replaced my earlier memories of crossing the prairies. Back then, I remember acres upon acres upon acres of wheat fields from horizon to horizon. Now, huge swaths of canola fields slash across the flat landscape in eye dazzling yellow flowers sitting above the brilliant yellow-green leaves beneath. The entire scene has a freshness of colour and holds a promise of growth and renewal that is breath-taking, reassuring and inspiring all at the same time. The round pen, fence and telephone pole are evidence of habitation that I also find interesting subjects when placing their neutral colours against the intense canola fields beyond. Carol
On pulling over to the side of the road at this stop, I was enchanted by a train sitting on the tracks with a wheat coloured field in front, that's what I wanted to paint. Stepping out of the car, I walked down a bit of a scrubby hill to get a better angle. My steps took me towards the one and only tree in the vicinity. I crouched to get the angle I wanted for the shot and "SWOOP!" overhead I heard this noise, startled, I looked up to see a large bird rising up into the sky. I thought, "What?" I watched it for awhile hovering overhead and crouched back down to take my photo - SWOOP - this time the hawk came at me from in front rather than behind. I quickly jumped up and away and the bird rose into the air again. Not getting the message, I tried once more - SWOOP!- and, I WAS DONE!!! I ran back to the car leaving Carol to her own defences. I guess I had come close to a nest. Needless to say, I HAD to paint a Swainson Hawk! ~ Alison
This painting juxtaposes the old and the new in a golden landscape of summer ripened grasses. The old gate and fence creates a barrier between the highway and its travelers and the dirt road leading toward the mysterious four towers reaching into the vast blue sky. I loved the ambiguity of the imagery here. Carol
Remnants of neon-orange plastic tied to the road sign, evidence that man had been present in the wide open prairie landscape, spoke to me. The contrast of that bright orange against the blue sky and more neutral greens and wheat yellows was a visual delight, as was the dance they created in the afternoon breeze. I glued a topographical map to my canvas to give texture to the grasses and put a stain of colours over top. The roadway in and behind the "One Way" sign was created with a paper bag, the grass cut from the paper bag displaying the map below. I enjoyed the idea of the "One Way" sign sitting in an open landscape with no other information available. ~ Alison
After the open spaces of the prairies, coming into Calgary was daunting, I was glad Carol was driving and not me. Our stop was on the east side of the city, very close to the edge of town and it amazed me how we went from open landscape to a concrete one, from open road to congested traffic. In Regina our stop had a Scotia bank on the corner and here at our stop, I discovered a Scotia Bank as well. The straight lines of the architecture and colours against the blue sky appealed to my love of detail. ~ Alison
A boy sits on his bike waiting for the lights to change so he can continue on his way home from school. This could be any corner, in any city, but it happens to be the corner of 16th Avenue North-East, which is the Trans-Canada highway, and 68th Street North-East. I was amazed at the almost lack of colour of the scene. All of the cars save for a single bright yellow one were white, black or grey. The road was grey, as were the concrete edges of the sidewalk in the intersection. I love the way the eye travels along the spots of colour from the school bus to the yellow car to the reflector on the bike. Carol
This stop was just past the second animal bridge that goes over the highway after entering Banff National Park. In the distance are the iconic Castle Mountain and Helena Peak. The deep greens of the forest in the foreground give way to the deeper blues on the far hills and, coupled by the complimentary blues of the sky, frame the orange tones of the mountains. Carol
The wildlife overpasses are such a great architectural achievement. We, the people inside the cars, are visitors to the park hoping to see a bear, a moose, or some other animal at the side of the road. These structures allow safe passage for the wild park dwellers. Beautiful to look at and functional as well, the manmade overpasses fit beautifully into the surrounding nature. ~ Alison
These buildings that guard the entrance to our national parks have always held me in awe. As a child, my first introduction to them was in Algonquin Park on our way to camp. Now, my family passes through similar gates when we venture into the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. That this exact spot was our location for our project thrilled me as it gave me an opportunity to pay tribute to something I admire. As this was my last painting in the series, I decided to approach it a bit differently with a very illustrative style. It is the only painting I created sitting on my knees with the canvas on the floor!!
Jasper National Park is one hundred and eleven years old and a world heritage site. ~ Alison
Jasper National Park is one hundred and eleven years old and a world heritage site. ~ Alison