Island and Cloud Shadow - Bone China mug

16 August found me canoeing south on Sylvester Lake from the art camp on the shore of Wolf Lake, Temagami District. The mood of open water is entirely influenced by wind and sky. Today it's like a fairy tale. The lake is smooth and the reflections exquisite. Looking behind us at the old growth forest on the western shore, I was entranced by a cloud shadow making an arrow shape with its reflection, and inserted in its tip was the sharp bright sliver of a granite island, glowing pink in the sun. I began this painting shortly after the Wolf Lake trip, but had to set it aside for the autumn field work and paintings of the Frontenac Arch. I have allowed the soft violet underpainting which lies within the folds of the forest, forming an atmosphere for the trees, to emerge in the unfinished painting of the reflection of the nearer forest on the left. The influence of the violet underpainting also makes the pale blue sky more subtle, and supports the darker sky reflection which reaches forward toward our canoe, which was floating on cloud reflections. http://karstaddailypaintings.blogspot.ca/2014/01/island-and-cloud-shadow-oil-on-canvas.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ALETA KARSTAD is an artist of the out of doors. With her biologist husband Fred Schueler, she has been exploring nature in Canada for 40 years. Since 2009 this blog has showcased the results of their art and exploration. Here, science, art, and conservation come together. Aleta's paintings glow as you scroll down the blog, and there are many surprises, as her subjects are not all landscapes! Equally enthralling are accounts of how she does them. Alongside the art are journals of adventures in on-site "en plein air" painting, and new discoveries of rare species, invasive aliens, and ecological change. Join in discussion by leaving comments, and purchase Karstad paintings to support art & science in the exploration of Canada. Aleta welcomes contact by e-mail: karstad("at"symbol)pinicola.ca