Author: Elizabeth Austin

When the tide is out Spanish Banks in Vancouver has vast expansive beaches.  And on sunny summer days the beaches are loaded with people playing in the water!

Set on the west coast of British Columbia the tiny sea stacks stand up to all sorts of harsh winter storms.  Even though the seas actually carve away at the rock formations to continually shape these bits of rock the trees and foliage continue to thrive and flourish.  As this piece emerged on the canvas … Read More

The view across Linda lake in Yoho National Park towards Hungabee Mountain 3493 metres (left), Opabin Pass and Mount Biddle 3,319 metres (right).   Painted from a small 8 x 10 plein air sketch.

I recently returned from a hiking and painting trip to Lake O’Hara in Yoho National Park.  We lucked out with the weather and had a fabulous few days!!

Painted plein aire when I was hiking up Whistler Mountain.  I road the gondola to the top and hiked down towards Harmony Lake.  And what hikes down has to hike back up, great exercise!!  The view is looking across the lake towards the Seventh Heaven runs on Blackcomb Mountain.

Siwash Rock is located in Stanley Park adjacent to the sea wall and is Vancouver’s only sea stack. Walking from Third beach towards Prospect Point and the Lions Gate bridge, the sea wall swings out around Siwash Rock and there are many angles to take a picture from without having to actually be in a … Read More

I think the vastness of the west coast is well captured on a long linear canvas!

As the sunset with its light reaches across the water of the lake, the foreground trees are haloed in a subtle light.

Deep in the shadows of the river canyon a shaft of light finds its way through.  The single stream of light grows bigger when it hits a small bit of river and hits a few rocks that then reflect into the water.