The Northwest Territories has a vast Boreal Forest, which consists of Jack Pines, Trembling Aspens, White Spruce and Black Spruce, Balsam Poplar and Paper Birch.
This summer while camping at a wonderful spot at Reid Lake Campsite, many Jack Pines seemed to be suffering from the lack of rainfall turning a rusty orange on many of their fir bows…surviving but barely it seemed. This Jack Pine was close to where I camped . Working Au Plein Air I tried to capture its dryness. I love the ominous shadow , we recently had a serious fire in the North causing all citizens from Yellowknife to evacuate. Perhaps this event has subconsciously made me more aware of how fragile the ecosystem really is and how not to take it for granted. We since have had sufficient rainfall and the barges were again able to travel on the Mackenzie River, North to small communities because the water levels have risen a bit. The costs of food stuffs should be lower now since not being flown in. Drought is a very serious issue all over the world right now thus that ominous “firelike”shadow found its way into my painting.
The Northwest Territories has a vast Boreal Forest, which consists of Jack Pines, Trembling Aspens, White Spruce and Black Spruce, Balsam Poplar and Paper Birch.
This summer while camping at a wonderful spot at Reid Lake Campsite, many Jack Pines seemed to be suffering from the lack of rainfall turning a rusty orange on many of their fir bows…surviving but barely it seemed. This Jack Pine was close to where I camped . Working Au Plein Air I tried to capture its dryness. I love the ominous shadow , we recently had a serious fire in the North causing all citizens from Yellowknife to evacuate. Perhaps this event has subconsciously made me more aware of how fragile the ecosystem really is and how not to take it for granted. We since have had sufficient rainfall and the barges were again able to travel on the Mackenzie River, North to small communities because the water levels have risen a bit. The costs of food stuffs should be lower now since not being flown in. Drought is a very serious issue all over the world right now thus that ominous “firelike”shadow found its way into my painting.
Original Watercolour on Arches 140 lb paper; size 14” X 20 “ Painted near end of July 2025
