Madeleine Island Dunes

Madeleine Island Dunes

36" x 36" - acrylic on canvas - $700

In September 2015 we spent a few days touring the Les Iles de la Madeleine - a small archipelago (the red islands in the map below) in the Gulf of the Saint Lawrence, that is part of the Province of Quebec. 

As we drove all around the islands we stopped at many of the beaches, not to swim, but to just breathe the ocean air and marvel at the size, isolation and beauty of the them. Some were rugged and some were surrounded by magnificent sand dunes, like these below, the first of which inspired the painting above.

The painting evolved this way......

When I started painting I wasn't sure how much of the magenta ground would ultimately show through. It did however determine the other colours I used, and I really liked what was happening.  It is definitely a lively, colourful painting, but for me, reminiscent of good times, and a beautiful pristine spot in the world. 

Sand Dunes on the Iles de la Madeleines

Sand Dunes on the Iles de la Madeleine

20" x 24" - acrylic on canvas - $250

At the end of July, I painted a landscape by layering acrylic washes on a primed white canvas, allowing the colours to intermingle with each other, much like painting a 'wet into wet' watercolour. It is a process involving restraint and patience waiting for paint and canvas to dry between layers. But, it's also lots of fun and I really like the painterly effects and spontaneous quality of the finished work and of course the strength of the acrylic colours. 

The painting above represents my second experiment with this technique. The subject is based on a photo of sand dunes I took while visiting the Iles de la Madeleine last August. I love the complementary colour scheme and lately find myself drawn to pinks and reds, and of course green. And if you are wondering where the water is - it's just over the pink band at the top.