This is one of a couple of "catch-up" posts that I will attempt to complete as I continue to work on the latest paintings. This post actually describes one of the site explorations back in early October of 2013...
Shortly after the AGM last fall, the Nature Trust put me in touch with Evan Young, the land steward of the Arthur Kyle preserve on Becaguimac Island in Hartland. Evan was going to be making a fall visit to the island and kindly offered to take Bridgette and I over by canoe. We met him on a Sunday afternoon and paddled over to the island.
Shortly after the AGM last fall, the Nature Trust put me in touch with Evan Young, the land steward of the Arthur Kyle preserve on Becaguimac Island in Hartland. Evan was going to be making a fall visit to the island and kindly offered to take Bridgette and I over by canoe. We met him on a Sunday afternoon and paddled over to the island.
This is a very small island, so it didn't take long to walk around it from one tip to the other. It is nicely nestled between two remarkable bridges, including the famous "World's Largest Covered Bridge." It also offers a unique perspective on some of the other landmarks in the town. While we explored the island, Evan pointed out some of the notable plant species. We also peeked underneath some cobblestones for any signs of the endangered tiger beetle. No luck yet...maybe next time...
Since taking on this project, I now realize that I have already painted Becaguimac Island back in 2009 when I participated in a local event called Paint The Hartland. This small acrylic painting has since sold, but I would like to create another version of it. In fact, I hope to repaint it "en plein air" this summer at the same event. Only this time, I will paint it in oils and from a different perspective.
Below is a similar view point of the island from our trip with Evan in the fall (more than four years later). As you can see the ice build-up over the last several winters has been tough on the island's trees.