Description
16 x 20 oil on canvas
Ritchie Falls is one of those places that continually draws me back. The rushing water, weathered granite, and shifting forest light create a scene that is never quite the same from one visit to the next.
This painting is the culmination of a journey that began with a plein air study beside the falls, followed by a small studio painting, and finally this larger work. Each stage allowed me to move beyond simply recording the landscape toward expressing what makes this place so meaningful to me.
While the composition is based on a photograph by my friend and mentor, John David Anderson, my intention was to capture the memory and feeling of standing beside the water—the cool mist, the constant movement, and the quiet rhythm of the Canadian Shield.
Ritchie Falls has become one of my favourite places to paint, reminding me that some landscapes reveal themselves slowly. They ask us to return, to look more closely, and to discover something new each time.
Photo reference courtesy of John David Anderson, whose generous mentorship over the past two years has been an important influence on my artistic journey.
