Graffiti At Ferry Terminal, Freeport, Long Island, N.S.
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Way out in the country you don’t often see graffiti, and certainly not the artistic variety. So this painted statement near one of Nova Scotia’s most remote ferry terminals (in Freeport, Long Island) stood out for its vivid colors, its possibly enthusiastic statement about its location, and the fact that it took someone more than a little time to complete this.
Similar posts on O’Canada:
Lobster Traps, Westport, Brier Island, N.S.
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Colorful buoys, rusted anchors and long coils of rope strewn hither and yon, and vibrantly painted sheds dotting the rugged shore of Westport on Brier Island, N.S., provide unmistakable signs that this place is a longtime fishing village. Situated as the westernmost part of Nova Scotia, this compact but charming island is just a modest drive (and two short and scenic ferry rides) from the much larger port of Digby, which is a little to the east up the the gorgeous Bay of Fundy coast. People routinely make the trek here for the beautiful coastal vistas, to go whale watching or just to meander to and through a quieter place and time.
Fishing Boat Buoys, Westport, Brier Island, N.S.
Walking Path Along the Shore, Kejimkujik Seaside, N.S.
Marshes in the Minas Basin, Looking Toward Cape Blomidon, N.S.
Red Sprigs Among the Rocks, Kejimkujik Seaside, N.S.
Katharine Burns, “Perfect Day”
Capturing in a painting the emotion of the coastal landscape is a tricky thing and something that Halifax-based artist, Katharine Burns, has managed to do perfectly. Inspired by the serenity of Nova Scotia’s beautiful shores (one of my favorite places!), she skillfully renders the movement of ocean waves, with varying shades of light dancing across the water’s constantly shifting surface beneath vast expanses of cloud-covered skies. This past August, Burns had her first (of what I’m sure will many other) well-deserved solo show, this one entitled “Sea Level” and held at Argyle Fine Art in Halifax, which showcased many of her seascapes.
On her artist site she notes: “Preparing for my first solo show was one of the hardest things I’ve done. For six months I went through periods of serious self doubt and frustration along with some moments of sudden realization and inspiration. It was a bit of a rollercoaster for me emotionally but I learned a lot and grew as an artist.” You have to root for that sort of spirit and candor!
In addition to Burns’ evocative seaside paintings, her other work is also terrific. I especially like the painterly style of her series of bicycle paintings, a few of which are below. More of her art can be seen on Burns’ artist site here.
[As an side, much like the Ian Tan Gallery on Canada’s West Coast, Argyle Fine Art on the East Coast has a stellar roster of emerging and established Canadian artists and both are among my favorite independent art galleries. As I’ve done with some Ian Tan Gallery artists, this is the first of several posts I’ll be doing on a few artists represented by Argyle whose work deserves greater attention.]
Katharine Burns, “Diffused Light”
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Katharine Burns, “Glisten”
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Katharine Burns, “Lawrencetown”
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Katharine Burns, “Road Racer”
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Katharine Burns, “Linus”
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Katharine Burns, “Bicycle Series 2”
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Katharine Burns, “Marginal Road”
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Related Posts on O’Canada Blog:
Lyssa Kayra’s Inspired Tree Ring Art
Intricate Pebble Paintings by Kristina Boardman
David Pirrie: Mapping Western Terrains and Our Sense of Place
Andrea Kastner and Rejected Things
Artist to Appreciate: Richard Ahnert
Rustic Barn with Red Doors, Windows and Roof, Ile d’Orleans, Quebec
“I’m so glad you’re here . . .
It helps me realize how beautiful my world is.”
Kejimkujik Seaside, near Liverpool, N.S., is wonderfully peaceful along the north Atlantic coast, a perfect place for quiet reflection and a sun-soaked nap upon its massive granite rocks.
“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.”
~ Rabindranath Tagore
Walking along a backroad trail in Harbourville, Nova Scotia near the Bay of Fundy shore these small flowers hugging the ground caught my attention. While their more commonly known and larger floral cousins (such as roses, tulips, lilies and the like) may receive more attention, the abundance of these tinier, prosaic blooms poking their vibrant colors through rocky terrain and from under scattered logs provides a perfect backdrop for a hike close to the water on a lazy summer day.
Lichen-Covered Rocks and Windblown Pine, Kejimkujik Seaside, Nova Scotia
“And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been.”
~ Rainer Maria Rilke
Rusted Tiller Wheel, Annapolis Valley, N.S., Along the Bay of Fundy Coast
“I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
A Quiet Fishing Village, Newfoundland
“This world is but a canvas to our imagination.”
~Henry David Thoreau
View Across the Annapolis Valley and Minas Basin I, Nova Scotia
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View Across the Annapolis Valley and Minas Basin II, Nova Scotia
“This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and the animals . . . .”
~Walt Whitman
Driftwood, Early Morning, Parker’s Cove, Nova Scotia
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“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Blades of Grass, Stanley Park
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Many photos from Vancouver’s Stanley Park are of the more traditional sights there, such as the native American totem poles about which I posted earlier. I certainly have taken my share of those but I also like less customary images of off-the-beaten-track details from a location such as Stanley Park. These images I captured from the Park are examples of ordinary details that convey a different sort of majesty for that place.
Weathered Mooring, Stanley Park
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Bush and Rock Minimalism, Stanley Park
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Along the Seawall, Stanley Park
Seaweed and Rocks, Kejimkujik National Seaside, NS
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On the south shore of Nova Scotia about 110 miles (175 km) southwest of Halifax sits the amazing Kejimkujik Seaside, which is an extension of the much larger inland Kejimkujik National Park. Its remote hiking paths along windy shores offer breathtaking views of Nova Scotia at its natural best. These pics are from a memorable hike there on an overcast day.
Windswept Spruce, Kejimkujik National Seaside, NS
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Color Amidst the Rocks, Kejimkujik National Seaside, NS
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Rocks Among Tall Grass, Kejimkujik Seaside, NS
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Wildflowers, Kejimkujik Seaside, NS
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Lichen-Speckled Boulder, Kejimkujik Seaside, NS
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Quebec Month / Installment 12
Driving a couple of hours north of Quebec City in the beautiful Charlevoix region, we came across this bright red tractor along a scenic stretch of the St. Lawrence coast. Farm tractors are rarely situated this close to a shore line, so its rustic charm beckoned the camera.
O' Canada 