art

A Favourite Place

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I am fortunate to live just a short distance from a world class cross country ski area with over 200 km of ski trails. Gatineau Park in Quebec is a gorgeous hilly park with all levels of cross country skiing, you could never get bored there. Of course it doesn’t look like this just yet, but soon I hope! We spend quite a lot of time there skiing in the winter and a bit of time climbing in the summer. These pictures were taken during a previous ski season. I hope we turn white before the holidays!

The park which is 361 square km's is dotted with little cabins equipped with wood burning stoves, you can pop in and warm up or even bring a meal to warm up on the stove.

All images © Karen McRae

A Light Dusting

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It’s December, I’m ready for more. I love how the snow softens the landscape and makes everything slow down. The sounds are a little bit muffled, the world is a little more still. I’m romancing the winter now.
Bring it on.

I’ve loved this poem since I was a child. Mom, Dad, if you’re wondering where your Robert Frost book is, I stole um, borrowed it years ago.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
By Robert Frost
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.


All images © Karen McRae

Barn Stalking

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Yup, I was barn stalking. A relatively slow-moving subject and really, who doesn’t like an old abandoned building?
And crows, there’s always a crow. I’m sure they’re taking over the world. I’m okay with that.
We had just a little snow today.
All images © Karen McRae

I’ve Been Drawn! …not shot…or quartered…

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(and yes, I have a questionable sense of humour, ask anyone in my family)

Anyway, The very talented artboy68  sent me an email today telling me that I am number 39 of his 100 Portraits Project! I am honoured to be literally drawn into this project. Thank you so much Scott! You can see his post with the drawing of me here. He’s drawing 100 portraits is 20 weeks! You should definitely check out his blog.

The Coming Season

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I  have a kind of love/hate relationship with Winter. I always dread the shortening days and biting cold and the fact that it tends to drag on and on. Once the snow is here I start finding it tolerable, even magical. Everything is brighter and fresher.  It’s more the anticipation of winter that gets me, once arrived  I have discovered that if  I embrace winter for what it is I can get lost in the beauty and possibility of it. And that means spending a considerable amount of  time outside. We often move from mountain biking season into ski season within just a few days but winter has been slowly inching towards us this year, slowly enough that now I am just eagerly awaiting a big snowfall. Itching to get out on my skis. Until then here is  a little glimpse of one of winter’s  magical possibilities. Tomorrow we welcome December.
Upper Nicholson’s Locks, Merrickville ON
All images © Karen McRae

Late Day, Late November

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November is almost gone and it’s been a kind one. Warmish with more sunshine than usual and the snow that came a few days ago is all melted away. Today was mostly grey but the late afternoon brought some interesting light, and with it orange fields and purple-blue skies.That orange field has been beckoning me for a while now.
All images © Karen McRae

Avian Architecture 2: Bird’s Nest Shavings

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Ages ago a friend of mine gave me some metal shavings for the purpose of remaking them into a bird’s nest. These shavings are actually called “bird’s nest shavings” because of the way they look and bunch together. I finally got around to weaving one together. It was trickier than I thought. The little shavings are very delicate and break easily if bent. It took me quite awhile to weave them into a decent shape. I’m sure the birds wouldn’t be impressed with my efforts but it made me appreciate even more what a work of art a true bird’s nest actually is. I think I might give it another go. You can see the real thing here.  (The little egg-shaped rock is from my trip to Newfoundland this summer).
Click on images to enlarge.

All images © Karen McRae