Ponderosa Viewpoint

Once people see nature as the connection point they often find that an Okanagan landscape includes many different and interesting species of birds. This is exhibited at the Summerland, B.C., Sunoka Provincial Park, adjacent to Trout Creek where an enormous variety of birds thrive. The Great Blue Heron selects a ponderosa pine, or the old growth cottonwoods as they provide shelter, and serve as a location to view the shallow foraging area of the creekside, or Okanagan lakeshore. The herons are part of this diverse ecosystem, seen alongside other wildlife like the Canada Geese, and ducks. An appreciation for colour and light continues to be one of the reasons that I enjoy painting. The blue-grey plumage harmonizes well together, and the value contrast in the head of the heron ensures that it is the focal point. As I hike along the trail beside Trout Creek, I am always on the look out to discover a great blue heron in one of the ponderosa pines, or wading in the shallow waters hunting for prey.

I hope the beauty and diversity of our surrounding natural areas reminds one of the timeless human yearning for something greater, something uplifting, something beyond our own brief lives. I hope my paintings reflect and remind the viewer of eternal themes, the cycle of life, and our place in the world.