Alberta Spring

I headed out to go hiking around Canmore a week ago and it was beautiful to see signs of spring emerging: liquid lakes, golden grass, and bunt umber forest floors. Some of my friends and family to the south have pictures posted of their flower gardens and tomatoes growing. Well, Alberta has spring as well: A spectacular thawing away of the winter to uncover buried layers of life.

And Winter Returns....

And just as quickly as spring appears, it recedes into the background and grey skies and snow take center stage. I know the spring weather fluctuations should be viewed in a sort of zen appreciation of nature and change as opposed to disappointment and dreams of one-way tickets to Cancun.

So on this March day, which began with me scraping ice off my windshield, I would like to reflect on the beauty of cold.

Attached are some recent pictures taken two weeks ago at Barrier Lake in Kananaskis, Alberta. This area of south-western Alberta is known for its groomed cross country skiing trails, downhill skinning and hiking. Though the day was overcast, windy and bitter cold, there was a distinct beauty to it - just as I am sure there must be beauty in ice on a windshield, if only we stop to look for it.

Interior Plains

Plein Air Paintings

This morning I woke to blue skies and unseasonable warm temperatures. I gathered my paints, water bottle, pallet, canvas, and husband and headed out to try my hand at some plein air painting. This was my first time painting on-site in years and the difference was significant.

First there are the technical differences. These I expected. The light was brilliant – far brighter than in my painting studio – and I could detect the subtle differences in the shades of my paints. Of course, the scene in front of me was more detailed than it would be from a photo or sketch. Then there was the sun pounding on my neck, the cold hard ground, and the distance from a washroom that had me painting at a frantic and vigorous rate that I could not maintain for more than an hour or so.

But the second difference was psychological. One of the things I love most about my studio is that is a sanctuary. I can go in, close the door and leave the world behind me. But there are some days I want to be in the world – I want to be part of the community and suddenly the isolation of my studio is something I resent. While I painted today I was surrounded by people – a young boy and his mother stopped to watch me paint. An older, elegantly dressed woman asked me to turn my canvases around. After a close look, she said, “Oh, I can see what you are doing...”
Which leaves me with my parting question: If I want to paint Calgary and southern Alberta, shouldn’t I be out in Calgary not shut away in a studio? (NOTE: I reserve the right to retract this question in -10 weather)

All in all the day was successful...the process more interesting, than the outcome. I look forward to another weekend of on-site painting. Below are the results of my first Canada plein air experience.

Plein Air: South Glenmore Park I

March 2010

Plein Air: South Glenmore Park II

March 2010

Waterton Park Paintings

Waterton Park: Mountain and Prairie, 2010

In Waterton, the Great Plain Prairies meet with the northern Rockies creating a stunning contrast of gold and violet during the autumn months. Waterton Park contains some of the oldest mountains in the Rockies.

Waterton Park: Lake and Mountains, 2010

Waterton Parks was actually named after its chain of lakes. Though it is the smallest national park in the Canadian Rockies, it contains a vast assortment of ecosystems and wildlife.

Waterton Park: Haystacks 2010

Waterton Park is located in Southwest Alberta. Driving from Calgary to Waterton in late August/early September is truly spectacular. You see the golden rolling prairie and green farmland flanked by purple mountains.

For more information on Waterton Park, visit Parks Canada.

Visual Rhythm

One of my favourite ways to teach students about visual rhythm is to have them look (and listen to) Romare Bearden’s The Block.

We discuss how pattern makes visual rhythm and students create a collage style block of their own.

One of the reasons I enjoy this so much is the integration of sound (music), art, and poetry - students write rhythmic, onomatopoeia poems describing their art. But a second reason is as an artist I am drawn to the organic patterns of landscapes as well as the geometric patterns of cityscapes.

So on this Alberta-Blue sky day, I headed downtown to find inspiration in the patterns of Calgary. Is Calgary remotely similar to Bearden’s Harlem? Not really. But if there is one thing I teach my students, it is that everyone's block is a little different, and that uniqueness is something to be valued. So here is some southern Alberta urban rhythm, beautiful in its own right...

If you can’t beat them....

(and let’s face it, who in the history of the earth has ever beaten mother nature)...then suit up.

I am not a terribly fast learner, but during my first winter here in Alberta, I realized that the days of looking out the window at the cold grey world surrounding you and waiting for spring from the comfort of your living room were over.

Gone were the Mississippi winters of my youth which consisted of about three months of grey rainy weather and an occasional ice storm which made headlines across the state. For a short time everyone hibernated indoors and before you could say “Easter Sunday” the daffodils were blooming, the azaleas emerging and winter was a distant memory. However my geographical location has since shifted and so has my mindset. In a place where approximately 9 months out of the year resemble winter, waiting inside was not an option.

So today as I sat lethargically looking outside at the whitish gray landscape, I know I only had one choice – suit up. I pulled on the wool socks, the second pair of wool socks, the thermal underwear, lined ski-pants, tee-shirt, second tee-shirt, sweat shirt, down vest, down coat, gloves, hat, scarves, and went for a walk. No daffodils in sight, but Alberta winters do have a beauty of their own...