“The Barrier, Whistler BC”. Join me and Jasper at one of our favourite painting spots.  He can entertain himself digging and swimming and I can paint happily away, absorbing the view of the lake and its rocky shores, with views of the imposing and threatening Barrier, and the majestic Cloudburst Mountain. 

 The Barrier is a natural lava dam, roughly 1.5 miles long and 300 meters thick formed by ancient lava flows from Clinker Peak and Mount Price. It holds back over a trillion litres of water in Garibaldi Lake.  (The community of Garibaldi Village was moved from the base of The Barrier in the mid 1980, due to the instability of The Barrier.)  

I feel a complex blend of emotions painting in this breath-taking view; the peace and contentment of being absorbed by painting the scene, delight watching Jasper play, and humility and slight unease knowing there is a huge body of water held above me by a natural damn. I invite you to discover these layers of feeling within the brushstrokes of this piece.

This artwork is available at Stockhome Design in Vancouver. Please visit to view in person!