The deed is done. Snow is here
Today on our third snow storm, the ski hills are open for business, roads ploughed and sanded, local stores full of Christmas goodies and food.
Gatineau Hills waiting for winter
November signals that winter is on the way. We have dark sombre hills and the Gatineau River showing her character with one day quiet still water and the next churning whitecaps.
These watercolour sketch are from the advantage point of Déry Quarry on a cold November day with threatening snow flakes and cold north winds.
Next move is for old man winter to descend on the hills and river.
Fall is here in the Gatineau Hills, 2025
The hills are adding orange, lime and crimson to their colour scheme. This is the « in between season » not hot or cold, wet or dry – each day has it’s own personality. Below are two paintings originally painted earlier this summer but with the season changing to autumn here they lended themselves to this early fall colour scheme.
The sheep are kept close to the barn probably because we have stray dogs and coyotes in our area. As usual, they chose between grazing or curiously staring at the viewer.
The Rupert barns are always a mystery on how they manage to stay upright. It’s been years since any maintenance. My thoughts are the Irish settlers where proud farmers who built and maintain these barns for their cattle, hay and grain storage. These barns are testimonial to a passed rural life when well built barns, livestock and farm implements were a status of prosperity and success.
Sure sign summer has arrived 2025
It’s been a bumpy ride here in the Gatineau Hills, sometimes it’s 29 Celsius and then 6. Nature is always in charge and delivers the weather as it likes.
Wonderful to see the peonies starting to bloom in the garden and the Spatterdock flowering on the local waterways.
Peonies, watercolour, Hahnemühle, 12×16 inches, cold press, 140 lbs, 2025
Spatterdock, 28 by 20, oil on canvas, 2024
Spring Thaw 2025
Last day of March and Mother Nature is calling the shots here – snow, freezing rain and more rain.
View from local Quarry before ice is out of the Gatineau River, oil on canvas, 36×24, 2025
When we have the “betweenness” not winter not spring, I looked to the budding trees, rotting ice and blue horizon for inspiration and always the generous spirit of the Gatineau River and hills supplies it. Hurrah!