In Canoe Lake, I wanted to capture the serene, reflective stillness of early morning waters framed by distant shorelines and a glowing pastel sky.
The composition is split between a soft twilight sky of lavender and warm amber above, a dark, sheltering band of tree-lined hills in the middle distance, and a vibrant, layered expanse of deep blues, teals, and luminous greens below that mimic the tranquil surface of the lake. Thick, impasto brushstrokes and horizontal palette knife scrapes drag across the surface, creating a rhythmic, shimmering flow of light and reflection that draws the viewer straight into the water.
Working in oil on paper, the absorbent texture grounds the heavy paint layers while allowing the rough, energetic tool marks to stand out with raw intensity. Canoe Lake in Algonquin Park is one of my favorite places to visit; I go frequently on canoe trips with my wife, and this is often our starting point.
