Artist to Appreciate: Katharine Burns

O' Canada

Katharine Burns, “Perfect Day”

Capturing in a painting the emotion of the coastal landscape is a tricky thing and something that Halifax-based artist, Katharine Burns, has managed to do perfectly. Inspired by the serenity of Nova Scotia’s beautiful shores (one of my favorite places!), she skillfully renders the movement of ocean waves, with varying shades of light dancing across the water’s constantly shifting surface beneath vast expanses of cloud-covered skies.  This past August, Burns had her first (of what I’m sure will many other) well-deserved solo show, this one entitled “Sea Level” and held at Argyle Fine Art in Halifax, which showcased many of her seascapes.

On her artist site she notes: “Preparing for my first solo show was one of the hardest things I’ve done.  For six months I went through periods of serious self doubt and frustration along with some moments of sudden realization and inspiration.  It was a bit…

View original post 211 more words

The Lone Traveler

In June of 2012 we visited relatives in British Columbia. We traveled via ferries from the mainland to Port Angeles and onto Victoria. It was a rainy day and I spent much of time inside exploring the the passenger decks with camera in hand. June is a bit early in the year for tourism and finding this deck with a sole passenger captured the mood of the weather and the day.

The Lone Traveler

 

 

Quebec Charm in Vintage Postcards

I’m a big fan of old postcards, here are a few for this Sunday Morning.

O' Canada

Jacques Cartier Market, Montreal, Early 1900s

~

Similar Posts on O’Canada:

• Bridges As Depicted in Vintage Postcards

• “Having a swell time . . .”: Vintage Hospital Postcards

• The Great Canadian Outdoors: Vintage Rockies Postcards

• Ever-Bustling 20th Century Toronto

• Vintage Quebec:  Ox Carts, Dog Carts and Sleighs

View original post

Artist to Appreciate: Richard Ahnert

Time to get surreal

O' Canada

Richard Ahnert, Messenger (2012)

~

Richard Ahnert’santhropomorphic art is both whimsical and brilliantly provocative. This Toronto-based artist paints intriguing images of animals engaged in activities one might expect of weary modern-day city dwellers. While his work harkens back to the playful (and disturbing) posed taxidermy of the Victorian era, Ahnert’s paintings engage the viewer with considerable satire and reflection.  The images here provide only a small glimpse of his range and more of Ahnert’s fascinating paintings can be seen at his website, MyCanvas.ca: Paintings by Richard Ahnert.

Richard Ahnert, Billy Brooklyn (2011)

~

Richard Ahnert, Commute (2014)

~

Richard Ahnert, Feed (2014)

~

Richard Ahnert, First Light (2015)

~

Richard Ahnert, Panda Wear (2014)

~

Richard Ahnert, Pride & Ponder (2013)

~

Richard Ahnert, The Hemingway (2013)

View original post

Three Children

Learn about the Northwest Coast Indians at Amazon.com

Several years ago I scanned some photos that my wife’s niece had been keeping in a shoebox taken in the 1950s and 1960s. These were taken at several of the Indian Reserves along the west coast  of Vancouver Island. My wife lived in several of the various locations, Hot Springs, Ceepeecee, Zeballos and Nuchatlitz.

These photos came from non standard sized negatives that would not fit in my film scanner. I resorted to photographing them with macro lens agains a backlit piece of paper and inverting the image with software. I was pleased that I was able to capture these images.

Three in a row

West Coast Archives

Learn about the Northwest Coast Indians at Amazon.com

Several years ago I scanned some photos that my wife’s niece had been keeping in a shoebox taken in the 1950s and 1960s. These were taken at several of the Indian Reserves along the west coast  of Vancouver Island. My wife lived in several of the various locations, Hot Springs, Ceepeecee, Zeballos and Nuchatlitz. She also attended several of the Indian Residential Schools, Christie, Saint Mary’s and Mission, all of which were part of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement agreement announced in 2006.

I have no detailed information about the date, location or people in the photos with the exception of the ones with my wife and her relatives. I believe these photos are of historical significance, and that is why I intend to post them. This is the first in the series.

 

It would be unfair to characterize this priest with only a photo but he looks to me like someone you didn’t want to mess with

Nootka Island Cemetery

Read about West Coast Cemeteries at Amazon.com

In 1972 after my Navy stint. I traveled up to Canada and visited Nootka Island. These photos were taken at Friendly Cove.

Cross at Cemetery on Nootka Island

 

Pathway on Friendly Cove

 

Overgrown Cemetery