Western Islands, Georgian Bay, 42 x 108 · Apr 16, 11:18 pm

Studied from a beautiful boat trip with the client, and followed by two overhead flights, this painting is a commission of Western Islands Georgian Bay.

Stu created a stunning seamless smooth surface wood panel for me to paint on.

Being that the painting was 42” x 108” and weighing over 90 pounds, Stu created bracing and installation anchors, both fastened to the piece, and a second matching one for the wall.

Remote Georgian Bay … The Western Islands! Located over twenty kilometres from the mainland, the Western Islands are as remote as remote gets in Georgian Bay. The Western Islands are nothing more than a lonely grouping of rocks, so far offshore that nothing else is visible but water and sky. In all directions there is only the horizon, a reminder that our time here is limited.

The first four photos are taken from the Southern Group of the Western Islands where a 45 foot lighthouse dated in 1895 stands to protect the Islands.

To view the other research trips we have taken to this location, follow these links;
Boat Trip August 2010, First flight at 7000 feet altitude March 2012, Second flight at 500 feet altitude May 2012

Click thumbnail to enlarge each image

  • Reference photo for sketch. Horizon and islands have changed position ... the piece will be much more dramatic than the photo.
  • Finalized sketch for Western Islands Sculpted Painting, 42 x 108
  • Western Islands
    Acrylics on Panel
    42 x 108 SOLD
  • Laminating the hanging bracket to panel.
  • laminating two braces on the back for hanging.
  • Lower under plastic, is the wood panel for painting, and above the plastic is the hanging bracket for the wall.
  • First application of paint!!!
  • Western Islands (left painting) all blocked in with first coats of paint.
  • Stu and Geoff positioning the piece for the photo shoot.
  • Western Islands, CLOSEUP
  • Western Islands, CLOSEUP
  • Western Islands, CLOSEUP
  • Approaching the Lighthouse of the Western Western Islands. Seriously, that's what they are called.
  • Seriously, it looks like something in the Carribean, or the Mediterranean .. but it's Georgian Bay! Okay, the water was a little colder.
  • And yes, HUGE trees finding growth amongst this harsh landscape and winds.
  • Western Islands
  • And as we circle the Westerns, no sight of land in the distance. So wonderfully remote.
  • Another Island we have yet to explore by land .. but I hear it's a beauty too!
  • Closer yet, and you can still see the lighthouse.

— Carol Currie


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