Canada is a vast and diverse country geographically... despite its smaller population than its nearest neighbour the USA. Every region possesses its own unique beauty and cultural differences. I have enjoyed the great pleasure of painting in all but one Canadian province... Newfoundland. But that's in our "bucket list"... things to do and places to go before life plays dirty tricks... as it most certainly will for us all.
I have lived in Nova Scotia on the eastern Atlantic coast of Canada for five years... my brother Don lives in Viuctoria, BC on the Pacific coast and my younger sister Chris lives in Edmonton, Alberta... nearer the central region of Canada ... known as the Prairies. In short... there are Shermans all over the map in Canada/// and at the moment Venice Italy and the Barbados as well!!!
No matter where each of us lives though... we come from extremely PROUD... LOYAL...and staunch Canadian stock. And today... more than any other day in the year... I am so very proud that my Scottish and English forefathers took the courage to leave their native homelands behind... to find a better life for themselves... and for their future family. I always feel blessed when I realize that upon making that dire choice... they forever lost the ability to share time with their own loved ones... even up until death separated them forever!
On this special day... I humbly and reverently offer my thanks for that ultimate gift of sacrifice on our behalf. I pray that our life and work do honour to that gift!
"I"... no "We"... are deeply blessed!
Happy Canada Day everyone!!! Fire up da barbies! HA HA!!!
Here's a cross section of some of my favourite paintings from my past travels across this vast country! Hope that they inform and entertain you today!
A BIG Hello ... From the Rock! Happy Canada Day!
A Colourful Hello... Talk about colour theory!
Paint Box Pride
Rusitco, PEI Lighthouse - oil on panel 20x24 inches
Peggy's Cove Light, NS...Maritime Monarch oil on panel 14x12 inches
Heaven on Earth... Kingsburg, NS oil on canvas 36x48 inches
Bienvenue (Welcome to ) a Charlevoix! - oil on canvas 30x24 inches
En Souvenir de (in memory of) AY (AY Jackson) -oil on canvas 48x36 inches
The Greeter, Les Eboulements, Charlevoix, Que oil on canvas 20x24 inches
Madawaska Relic -oil on panel 20x24 inches
The Magnificence of Algonquin Park Through the Seasons -(quadriptych oil) on 4 canvases 6x12 feet
Still Soaring! Indian Head, Saskatchewan oil on panel 12x16 inches
Lake Louise, BC in Winter oil on canvas 30x36 inches
The Real Canadian Idylls, Kananaskis, BC oil on canvas 36x48 inches
Ribald Royalty, Ribbon Creek, BC oil on canvas 36x36 inches
Life's A Beach, Sooke, Vancouver Island, BC oil on panel 24x48 inches
In Nova Scotia they called me "The Winter Painter." Winter remains my favourite time to get "out there"... often on my snowshoes to hike out to be alone with Creation!.... It restoreth my soul!!!
Good Painting to all!
Exquisite post, Bruce! Canada is indeed gorgeous and I'm enamored of all of it, especially as seen through your eyes. I love that house in Charlevoix near the church. I could happily move right on in. Same with the lighthouses. Always wanted to live in one of those too. Happy Canada Day, dear neighbor. (My mom's dad and his family were all from Canada.)
ReplyDeleteHappy Canada Day to you and Deb. Yes I agree with Sherry, Exquisite post. You do Canada proud with your magnificent paintings. Enjoy your day.
ReplyDeleteAll the best to you,
Joan
Happy Canada Day to you too, Bruce! I am celebrating right here in my studio, getting ready to take three works down to Sooke for the big show there that I got accepted into, which is pretty exciting! And it isn't raining at the moment!! Not many tourists up this way...we are just a bit too remote, but a few are hardy enough to venture here. Would love to take home one of your brightly coloured village scenes!
ReplyDeleteHi there Sherry!... Thanks for dropping by and for the upbeat comments!
ReplyDeleteCanada is indeed beautiful... as is the USA!...There is beauty anywhere in the world... if only one looks for it!
Charlevoix is indeed a magical place... a place where I would certainly be most happy as well... "to hang my hat!"
Happy Summer! Get those brushes out Girl!
Warmest regards,
Bruce
And Happy Canada Day ... back at you Karen!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the Sooke success! All three are show-stoppers! They deserve a wonderful home... not that yours isn't! HA HA!!!Hope that none of them come back!
We were overrun at times with visitors... but hey! No complaints from our end!
A Sampson for a Sherman????...I'd gladly trade at some time for an original of yours! Food for thought!
Good Summer Painting... and many sales!
Warmest regards,
Bruce
Hi there Joan!~... A premature Happy Fourth to You and yours back at you!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the wonderfully uplifting comments... it makes the painting and blogging so very rewarding and inspiring!
Thanks for dropping by and again for your generous comments!
Good Painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce
I loved the painterly tour of your beautiful slice of Heaven, Bruce!!
ReplyDeleteThat is a great pic of you in the snowshoes!! Dedicated painting!!
A late Happy Canada Day!!
Thanks Dean!... and a premature Happy Fourth back to you folks there in the USA!!!
ReplyDeleteGlad that the pix pleased you!
I('d love that cold landscape these past days here!HUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMid!!!
Good painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce
Hi Bruce, glad you had a good Canada Day.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the paintings which gave a good impression of the variety that is Canada, as well as illustrating your own artistic journey.
All the best,
Keith
Thanks Keith! It was a great Canada Day here in Rockport! Lots of visitors... very festive... with armadas water craft of every kind buzzing about... many of them trailing large Canadian flags!
ReplyDeleteThe painting cross section I felt, did give the impression of geographical difference across the breadth of the country. Glad that you enjoyed that as well!
I spent the middle part of the day creating a painting which I will post later this evening... which in a way correlates all of the latest events in our lives here.
Stay tuned!... Thanks for dropping by!
Good Painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce
Bruce, Canada has always been the one place I'd most like to visit so I've really enjoyed your post, especially the paintings which cause me to want to jump on the next plane. ;-)
ReplyDeleteHi there John!... So happy that you enjoyed this post. I have visited your part of the world and much enjoyed its beauty. There is beauty everywhere on this planet.
ReplyDeleteHope that on some occasion that you are able to come here... it would be a great adventure and source for your painting inspiration!
Good summer painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce
Bruce these are all FANTASTIC - LOVE the greeter!!
ReplyDeleteHi there Linny!... Thanks for your visit... and "high five!" Much appreciated... especially coming from another artist that I admire greatly!
ReplyDelete"The Greeter" was fun to paint! Again like so many of yours.Inserting people and four-legged friends adds some... Oomf!... to an ordinary landscape!
Good Painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce