Early morning photoshoots on Cortes Island, B.C. were a wonderful beginning of the day for a group of wildlife artists attending a workshop in 2012 with Robert Bateman at the Hollyhock Retreat. The peace and quiet along the ocean’s edge were disturbed only by a few bird cries, the occasional appearance of a wolf and the tide lapping at our feet. Along with collecting inspiring photos of landscape and wildlife for future paintings, friendships and memories were made. In this view towards the mainland, the sun is just peaking above the land. As it rose, the sky lightened, the wildlife awoke, and the day began. I enjoyed painting this scene with the striking complimentary contrasts of the blues and oranges and the reflections in the small tidepools along the shore. I’m drawn to water whether it’s streams, rivers, Lake Ontario where I live or the oceans touching our shores and I like the challenge of painting in a realistic style to capture the look and mood of these locations. I’ve been fortunate to have spent time in all our beautiful provinces and Yukon and this special place in British Columbia holds a piece of my heart.