Warmth of June - 20" x 30"
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 With Hailstorm Creek Bog being one of my favourite places to visit,
it only stands to reason that I would take so many photos there and
produce so many paintings from many of those photos. Far and away, my
24mm wide-angle is my favourite lens to use for paintable landscape
shots. An ultra wide-angle lens is very easy to use. Almost everything
is almost always in sharp focus; clear skies will usually have enhanced
blues, and there is seldom need for a tripod. It is almost impossible to
not get a dramatic result with a 24mm lens. This painting was inspired
by just such a photo.
About half way into the bog, just at the far end of one of the busiest open spaces (busy from a wildlife perspective), the water narrows to more of channel. This close approach of spruce trees marks that spot. On two different trips, I have seen Whitetail Deer standing at the water's edge at this exact spot-probably because it is one of the few places deep into the bog where the trees actually do come up to the water's edge -- deer are not as comfortable as moose are at walking about in the soft, muddy 'boggy' areas, and may prefer to stay closer to the cover provided by the trees. In this scene, my eye was drawn to the rich greens, warmed by the crisp morning sunlight, contrasted with the deep, cool blues of the clear spring sky. The absolute calmness of the water allows me to key in on the symmetry of the dramatic tree-scape and its perfectly mirrored reflection. The wispiness of the cirrus clouds and their reflections seem to add an element of movement, as well as a sense of depth. |
