Art Adventures - by Patricia Banks©
Published in Nanaimo Magazine & Voyager Magazine - October 2015
Autumn seemed like the perfect season to paint the Rocky Mountains, what could be more colorful? It has rained 10 of the last 12 days! As I sit in my tiny travel trailer listening to the raindrops on the roof, I know it is snowing a little further up in the surrounding mountains. I think about my initial excitement embarking on this Art Adventure. So here’s to chilly nights and less than perfect weather. With a little re-think and resourcefulness, we press on.
The variety and beauty of British Columbia’s scenery cannot be overstated. It is second to none. The subject matter begging to be painted is infinite. There is everything from majestic forests, mountains, grasslands and deserts; to water in all its fascination and historic towns including people and animals you might come across, willing to pose.
Our route began in Nanaimo. We crossed an ocean – the Salish Sea to be exact, whizzed through the cheery city of Vancouver, and headed north on the Yellowhead Highway. Wells Gray Provincial Park was our first painting stop. We hired an experienced, intrepid guide named Sharon, from Discover Wells Gray, www.discoverwellsgray.com for a true wilderness hiking experience. We were led, or perhaps I should say, we scrambled up the mountain sides to take in breathtaking views of Spahats and Silvertip waterfalls, with natural history and delicious snacks thrown in, to round out the day. Watch out for bears!
Back at the campsite, under a tarp, shielded from the drizzling rain, the magic of the mountain atmosphere glows in rich oil color on my canvas. En plein air painting radiates magic when you personally connect to the splendor of the ecosystem. I cherish a few captured moments and treasure them as remembrances of this glorious wilderness Art Adventure. Next stop, Jasper National Park…
Published in Nanaimo Magazine & Voyager Magazine - October 2015
Autumn seemed like the perfect season to paint the Rocky Mountains, what could be more colorful? It has rained 10 of the last 12 days! As I sit in my tiny travel trailer listening to the raindrops on the roof, I know it is snowing a little further up in the surrounding mountains. I think about my initial excitement embarking on this Art Adventure. So here’s to chilly nights and less than perfect weather. With a little re-think and resourcefulness, we press on.
The variety and beauty of British Columbia’s scenery cannot be overstated. It is second to none. The subject matter begging to be painted is infinite. There is everything from majestic forests, mountains, grasslands and deserts; to water in all its fascination and historic towns including people and animals you might come across, willing to pose.
Our route began in Nanaimo. We crossed an ocean – the Salish Sea to be exact, whizzed through the cheery city of Vancouver, and headed north on the Yellowhead Highway. Wells Gray Provincial Park was our first painting stop. We hired an experienced, intrepid guide named Sharon, from Discover Wells Gray, www.discoverwellsgray.com for a true wilderness hiking experience. We were led, or perhaps I should say, we scrambled up the mountain sides to take in breathtaking views of Spahats and Silvertip waterfalls, with natural history and delicious snacks thrown in, to round out the day. Watch out for bears!
Back at the campsite, under a tarp, shielded from the drizzling rain, the magic of the mountain atmosphere glows in rich oil color on my canvas. En plein air painting radiates magic when you personally connect to the splendor of the ecosystem. I cherish a few captured moments and treasure them as remembrances of this glorious wilderness Art Adventure. Next stop, Jasper National Park…
