'Snowy Coffin Island'

At low tide the Coffin Islands are a small and wondrous

place alive with the quarrelsome sounds of feeding

Wigeon as well as other competing waterfowl.

The islands lie on the north side of the entrance to West Bay

in Victoria's outer harbour. Though they both are probably

each under 100 feet across they rise up like the humps

on a camels back to at least 30 feet.

At below zero tide they seem higher yet when standing

on the exposed flats at their feet.

I made it out for a paint on Friday afternoon with painting pal

Linny D. Vine

We dressed for cold as it was about -10 Celsius in the wind

which in this part of the world is damn cold.

But dressed right, out of the wind and in the sun

quite pleasant. Victoria has just passed through our first

big weather event of this winter. My neighbourhood

got close to 25cm of snow and then the cold winds

gusting at times to over 50 kmh. Our world famous

flower count is slated to begin on Tuesday!

=:-/

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Oil on wood panel 6 x 8.

Your thoughts & comments always appreciated.

Jeffrey

'North from Holland Point'

I started painting this piece on a really beautiful late

morning in lovely sun on Victoria's waterfront.

However as many can attest, when painting en plein air,

a beautiful sunny day can be quickly over taken

by a cloud bank. This one showered us in

ice pellets and had us making a hasty retreat after about

an hour...what a difference an hour can bring...

=:-/

So I finished it off in the warm dry studio.

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Oil on wood panel 11 x 14.

Your thoughts & comments always hoped for.

Jeffrey

'Morning Gale'

This piece was inspired from a recent plein air

excursion during a morning easterly gale to

Albert Head Park. When the east

winds blow, large breaking waves are hurled onto

the beach and eventually create great swirls and

drifts of foamy sea floss from the constant wave

action. Years ago there was a manned light

station on the point. It is one of the local hot spots

for salmon and halibut fisherman as well many

sea mammals and birds can be observed here.

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Oil on canvas 36 x 30.

Your thoughts & comments are invited.

Jeffrey

'Easterly Gale - Albert Head'

I arrived here to paint Friday morning knowing it would

be windy but hoping I might find a spot with some

protection, that turned out to be behind the

windshield of my vehicle!

I hadn't tried this before, however I think it may be

worth exploring further for those days when the

conditions prove to much for this old soldier...

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Oil on wood panel 9 x 12.

Your thoughts & comments always appreciated.

Jeffrey

'Konk-la-tareeeee..."

Southern Vancouver Island has small numbers of

Red-winged blackbirds that winter over every year but

the wonderful mating displays and calls of

"konk-la-tareeeeeeeee..."

won't be present for awhile yet. However by this time of

year I'm already watching and listening for them and

looking for the first swallows of the year.

Two things that mark the beginning of

of spring, for sure, in my world.

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Oil on wood panel 9 x 12.

Your thoughts & comments always sought.

Jeffrey

'Misty Morning Swans'

One of the highlights of the winter season on the

south Island are the Tundra Swans that spend the

winter months here. Standing close to the marsh edge

when a small flock glides low overhead to land in the

water is a thrilling experience that warms the soul

even on a cool and damp west coast morning.

The marsh in those conditions softens sound

and the bugling calls of the swans

seem from another world.

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Oil on wood panel 12 x 16.

Thoughts & comments always appreciated.

Jeffrey

'Lagoon Willows'

Even on a chilly overcast westcoast winter day the

wonderful colour of the naked willows light up the

morning. I painted this while out with a small band

of hardy outsiders on Friday. The cold wasn't to bad

if you were out of the wind.

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Oil on wood panel 9 x 12.

Your thoughts & comments always appreciated!

Jeffrey

'Not Long Now'

This scene depicts that time in late fall when the

snow line is slowly creeping down the mountain with

each passing day. The excitement in the

skiing and boarding community begins to build

as the long waited for opening of the

season gets closer...

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Oil on wood panel 14 x 11.

Your thoughts & Comments always appreciated.

Jeffrey

'Meadow Memory'

Once a common sight on the south Island and throughout

much of the Gulf Islands, the Western Bluebird

is mostly just a memory. Though a few are sighted

every year it is a rare sight indeed.

Thankfully nest box programs and monitoring are

being started and it is hoped that it

will meet with the same type of success other

programs have had with species like

the Eastern Bluebird, Wood Ducks, Purple Martins and

others elsewhere in Canada & the US.

If you want to be part of the effort and help

bring back the Western Bluebird please check out

The Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team

You can really help.

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Oil on wood panel 10 x 8.

Your thoughts & comments are always welcomed!

Jeffrey