my art, how and what I see
Time to watch the sun. The days shorten, we see patches of yellow and magenta in the hill’s greenery, morning fog as the heat rises off the Gatineau River and the last blooms of the water lilies.
Time to capture the beauty of the hill
Luck of the draw to be part of this landscape. There is a picture to be painted everywhere one looks here.
Spring turtle Pond, Farm Point, Chelsea, watercolour/ hot pressed Fabriano
The weather here in the hills- very warm days at 30 degrees Celsius, with intermittent rain showers. This is acceptable but not ideal for plein air sketching with watercolour. However, sometimes the extra splash of rain drops enhances the landscape on paper.
The main actors here are the turtles trying to cross the chemin de la Rivière on their way to their summer residence. Slow down they have priority (we hope) if they need encouragement you can nudge them slowly with your foot or take out your rubber mats from your car.
Farm Point, Chelsea, Qc – the local turtle pond, 2026
Respect the turtle crossing, slow down the turtles are off to the Gatineau River
Finally Spring is here in the Gatineau Hills. We are still getting snow showers, below zero Celsius at night but to-day the sun is warming up the soil and snow patches are small and few.
Time to get out and plein air sketch with my watercolours. Here are two watercolours from past years sketching in Charlevoix, Qc
Beautiful and plentiful spots to paint this time of year in Charlevoix, no excuses just go and enjoy yourself.
The deed is done. Snow is here
Today on our third snow storm, the ski hills are open for business, roads ploughed and sanded, local stores full of Christmas goodies and food.
November signals that winter is on the way. We have dark sombre hills and the Gatineau River showing her character with one day quiet still water and the next churning whitecaps.
These watercolour sketch are from the advantage point of Déry Quarry on a cold November day with threatening snow flakes and cold north winds.
Next move is for old man winter to descend on the hills and river.