Sentinel and Stone, Point Atkinson
This piece began as a focused study for a larger work, but quickly became its own finished painting. It captures the essential elements of Point Atkinson in Lighthouse Park, BC, with a tight focus on the historical structures, the immediate rock forms, and the distant horizon.
The lighthouse itself—the historic Point Atkinson Lighthouse—is a strong form against the sky. Beside it sits the small keeper’s cottage. My goal was to explore the structural simplicity of these buildings where they meet the dense, dark tree-line and the rugged Canadian landscape. Alongside this, I focused on the natural geology of the bluff, studying how the unique shapes and patterns of the granite rocks build up the foreground, creating a solid base for the structures above.
The last of the sun's light stretches across the water at the distant horizon, casting a pale golden glow just above the trees of the far shore. This is contrasted with the clear, cool colours of the sky directly overhead. The composition is about this transition: the grounded, steadfast architecture and ancient rock against the immense, fleeting light of the evening.
The brushwork here is immediate and focused, reflecting the quick nature of a study. I built up the textures of the stone and the dark pine trees to give them weight and permanence, while treating the sky and distance with soft, quick strokes to capture the movement of light and air. It’s an intimate moment of stillness, focused on the enduring presence of the lighthouse and the raw power of the land against the vast coastal expanse of British Columbia.