Arctic paintings
My first night in the high arctic, as I stood on the bow of the Academik Ioffe following the ice breaker and supply ship through the broken ice in the Northwest Passage, I realized the vastness and beauty of the north had to be shared. What was supposed to be a “once in a lifetime expedition” turned into a lifetime passion with me returning, and bringing artists on 18 polar expeditions. Painting the almost abstract simplicity of the icebergs, mountains, and glaciers with the pink glows of the midnight sun took me back to my life drawing days - but, this time where landscape presents itself in it’s most simplified abstract form.
AVAILABLE ARCTIC PAINTINGS
Dancing Iceberg
36″ x 48″ oil on canvas | $3900
Looking at the shape of the icebergs makes me feel like I’m watching a dance—so graceful and beautiful.
Based on the oil sketch from 2016, I played with rhythm, colour, and light.
Dancing Iceberg, Davis Straight, 2016
12" x 16" oil on Panel | $750
Nothing like watching the icebergs dance by the ship while travelling in the Arctic.
Fjords of Baffin Island
36″ x 48″ oil on canvas | $2500
(canvas has a small repaired tear in the sky)
When we first travelled to this fjord in 2008, it was mostly unchartered. With the melting of the glaciers and sea ice ships are able to travel where they previously couldn’t.
greenland glacier
3′ x 4′ oil on canvas | $3900
The light on the top of the glacier is from the sun which is melting these glaciers at a very rapid pace. They are receding more and more each year. The iceberg is “calved” from these glaciers and will now begin it’s journey up the coast of Greenland, then down the coast of Baffin Island, Labrador, and Newfoundland before melting into the sea water. Green starts to appear in the mountains as the temperatures warm and the polar bear is in search of ice that takes him to his food.
splash
4′ x 6′ oil on canvas | $5500
Sitting in our zodiac, we listened and watched for birds. When a glacier is about to "calve" (birth icebergs), the birds sense the vibration and fly into the air. Moments later, we experience the "splash."
WATCHING THE ICEBERG CALVE - ANTARCTICA
3′ x 4′ oil on canvas | $3900
As I sat and painted this view in Antarctca an iceberg calved, penguins kept me company and a mink whale popped up.
The Arched Iceberg, 2014
30" x 40" oil on canvas | $3200
On my first expedition through the Arctic in 2002, our ship circled this arched iceberg in Davis Strait. As part of the story, I put our ship in the background.
Tidal Flats, Pangnirtung
3' x 4' oil on canvas | $3900
The Tip of the Iceberg, 2014
30" x 40" oil on canvas | $3200
Based on an expedition to southern Greenland. My interpretation of polar bears trying to get away from calving icebergs and a robin trying to figure out his new land. Robins (which I associate with spring in southern Ontario were first seen in the Canadian Arctic in 2008).
Light on the Polar Pyramids
40" x 60" oil on Canvas | $4500
The shape of these icebergs reminded me of the pyramids, but unlike the pyramids these won’t pass the test of time.
Looking for Food, 2013
30" x 30" oil on Canvas | $2500
When the ice is thick, polar bears can wait at a seal’s breathing hole for dinner, but as the ice became less and less, we experienced seeing polar bears on icebergs and swimming to get their dinner.
Looking Back, 2016
24" x 36" oil on Canvas | $2500
My reaction to Antarctica melting and the effect it has on the penguins.
Church in Sisimiut, Greenland, 2015
12" x 16" oil on Panel | $750
Love exploring the little communities in Greenland and then finding a shed to lean against and open my paintbox. The buildings were so colourful and happy.
Devon Island, Nunavut, 2015
12" x 16" Oil on Panel | $750
Took a break from teaching art workshops, and found my quiet spot on a rock surrounded by vast beauty.
Hubbard Glacier, Alaska, 2023
12" x 16" Oil on Panel | $750
This is the largest calving glacier on the North American continent and one of the few glaciers that is growing despite the effects of climate change. This view was painted from the ship.
Sitka Alaska, 2023
12" x 16" Oil on Panel | $750
In 2023, I took my first trip to Alaska. It was interesting to compare the similarities and differences between the western Arctic and the eastern Arctic (where I normally travel to). This view was painted from my balcony on the ship.
View From Pond Inlet, 2015
12" x 16" Oil on Panel | $750
One of the first Arctic plein air paintings I did was sitting on the sandy shore in Pond Inlet looking across to Bylot Island. When I came back south, I went to McMichael Gallery and saw that my favourite artist Lawren Harris also stood at the exact spot in 1930 and painted the view. So overtime I get back to Pond Inlet I make sure to paint this view.
SOLD ARCTIC PAINTINGS
Low Tide, Auyuittuq
3′ x 4′ oil on canvas | sold
Painted from a 2004 sketch that I did on location. I loved the pattern of the glaciers, mountains, and tidal flats. Little did I know that 3 years later this scene would drastically change.
A conversation
3′ x 4′ oil on canvas | SOLD
Robins have been seen in the Arctic since 2008. It seemed so odd to me, since I associate them with spring in Ontario, so I decided to paint a polar bear having a conversation with a robin as the glaciers melt in the background.
The yellow house
16″ x 20″ oil on canvas | SOLD
The house that Maurice Haycock built in Pangnirtung in 1926. It sparked my curiosity and interest in early Arctic travel and is where I suggested the idea of taking artists through the Northwest Passage with his daughter Kathy Haycock on our visit in 2004.
A climate of hope
4′ x 5′ oil on canvas, 2008 | Sold
This was painted when I first started realizing the full impact of climate change in the polar regions. Although the sun warms and melts the ice, the light also gives us hope. The glaciers furthest from the light have tear shaped glaciers. Polar bear footprints disappear into the water, and a robin sits atop the iceberg.
A Viking Fairytale
16″ x 20″ oil on canvas | sold
This spot in the south of Greenland reminded me of views from fairytale books.
Glaciers Gone Bye
4’x5′ oil on canvas, 2016 | sold
Upon returning to Auyuittuq Park I discovered that browns had turned to green and glaciers had turned to waterfalls in less than a decade.
When mountains cry out
24″ x 36″ oil on canvas | SOLD
As the sun melts the glaciers, we are left with tear shapes. I found experiencing this first hand very emotional and looked to my spirituality for understanding and comfort. It was before I saw the extreme impact which would result in more green earth and waterfalls.
On Our Own, Beechey Island
24″ x 36″ oil on canvas | sold
Based on my first night in the High Arctic. We followed the icebreaker and supply ship from Resolute and as we watched them head off in the distance I realized we were really on our own. This is where the Franklin Expedition was stranded in 1845-46. Although the mast from the supply ship England sent in case the men returned was laying down when we visited, there were stories of it once standing, so I stood it up in this painting to frame the scene and portray how spiritual the place felt.
Colours of Baffin Island, 2013
3′ x 4′ oil on canvas | Sold
A fjord we ventured down in 2008 painted in simplicity with all my favourite Arctic colours.
Bylot Glacier
3′ x 4′ oil on canvas | Sold
I am always mesmerized by the pattern of the glaciers on Bylot Island.
Bylot Island
3′ x 4′ oil on canvas | sold
Every time I visit Pond Inlet, I paint the view of Bylot Island from the beach. I love the colours of the Arctic skies in the middle of the night.
Bylot Island #2
2′ x 5′ oil on canvas, 2018 | SOLD
Glaciers dance their way down the mountain under a midnight sun.
Transition
24" X 48" OIL ON CANVAS | SOLD
Glaciers turn into waterfalls at the mouth of Auyuittuq National Park, as we see the browns gradually replaced with greens. Auyuittuq in Inuktituk (the language of the Inuit) means “Land that never melts”.
Low Tide, Pangnirtung
30″ x 6′ triptych oil on canvas | SOLD
As the tide goes out you can walk around the bergie bits.
Beached Bergie Bits, Pangnirtung
24″ x 36″ oil on canvas | SOLD
I loved the patterns made by low tide and the small stranded bits of icebergs.
Beached icebergs on tidal flats, pangnirtung, 2014
12″ x 16″ oil on panel| nfs
Sitting on the sandy shore, trying to decide if I loved the white mountain top jutting into the sky, or the pattern of the tidal flats more … or those beached berg bits, the culture, the people - one of my favourite places.
AUYUITTUQ NATIONAL PARK 2004 & 2007 EXPEDITIONS, 2014
24" X 60" DIPTYCH OIL ON Canvas | SOLD
In 2004, I sat outside Auyuittuq National Park painting in my survival suit. My palette consisted of blues and browns. Auyuittuq in Inuktitut means “land that never melts”. When I returned 3 years later, I couldn’t believe how drastically it had melted—to the extent that I didn’t have the right colours with me to mix the greens. I asked the Inuit artists if it was a fluke that there was so much ice and snow in 2004 and now there wasn’t (3 years later) and they replied “snow and ice that has been here for hundreds of years completely melted in the past five”. This was when the effects of climate change really hit me.