This painting was inspired by a photo my wife took a number of years ago, on a chilly January day in Smuggler Cove Provincial Park. The sun was up, but there was still a soft blush of frost on the water of the marsh, creating the illusion of snow. The park was originally an abundant source of seafood for many of the local first nation people living here. The name however comes from it’s history as a hiding place for smugglers along the coast in need of secluded, calm anchorage when smuggling foreign immigrants into Canada. The marsh was created by the industrious beavers and is still home to many of them, as well as to numerous ducks and seabirds. There is a lovely boardwalk that winds through the marsh, leading to pristine beaches and coveted campsites. I particularly enjoyed the freedom this painting gave me to “interpret” what I was seeing, rather than duplicate it.

Acrylic 46” x 36”