Where Did She Go? - Draw Art Retreat 2019

Draw - Dumoine   River  art  for  wilderness

I had the honour last week ( July 31 - August 6, 2019) of attending an incredible art retreat as part of a conservation effort on the Dumoine River in Quebec Canada. This was my first year being a part of the retreat but the third year of the event.  The event was initiated by artist Aleta Karstad with CPAWS Ottawa Valley (Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society) 

Day 1 & 2  ( July 31 & Aug. 1, 2019)

Day 1 consisted of getting there, getting set up and getting acquainted. ​

When I first heard about the retreat I was excited about the prospect of having six days of painting outside in a beautiful wilderness setting.  And that was pretty much all I focused on until I finally got the word from  John McDonnell, (CPAWS Executive Director – Ottawa Valley Chapter) that I had been accepted to be a part of the retreat. 

After that the reality set in that I would be camping - ah camping, outside. (It had been awhile). And that I would be going into the bush with 15 people I had never met before. Very quickly I was I starting to have second thoughts. 

However, once I got here that all changed very quickly.  15 strangers quickly became a group of people I felt like I had known for years. And it just kept getting better from there. 

Day 2 - August 1, 2019 - Painting  with  Phil  &  Mark

Phil and Mark were painting pals at lasts years retreat and were kind enough to let me tag along with them on the first day of painting.   

see philip chadwick's artwork here

See mark patton's artwork here

This is the spot where I painted for the first day - "Le Grande Chute" . If your acrylic paints dry to fast, try painting beside a misty river lol.  ​

"Le Grande Chute" 11"x14" Acrylic on gallery wood panel by Bonnie McQuillan

"First Light at Le Grande Chute" 11"x14" Acrylic on gallery wood panel by Bonnie McQuillan

"Free From Fog at Le Grande Chute" 11"x14" Acrylic on gallery wood panel by Bonnie McQuillan

We arrived early in the morning in heavy fog and mist off the water. But as the day went on the light emerged and revealed a whole new landscape to paint throughout the afternoon. 

Watch for my next post with more about the Dumoine River Art Retreat

For more information about CPAWS - Ottawa Valley or how you can help protect Canada's Parks and Wilderness click HERE - Thank you